A JOINT COMPANY has been formed by Lockheed Martin and Rafael to manufacture the Popeye/AGM-142 air-to-ground missile and other precision-guided weapon systems.
PGSUS (Precision Guided Systems US) will be based in Orlando, Florida, with the partners each taking a 50% share.
Lockheed Martin has been Rafael's US partner in the sale of the AGM-142 to the US Air Force. The missiles have previously, been manufactured in Israel, with minor additions by Lockheed Martin.
The investment in the new assembly lines in Orlando and Ocala, in Florida, and at a site in Alabama, will total $10 million. Operations are due to start early in 1997. US manufacture will enable weapons marketing to countries which will not buy directly from Israel.
The new production lines will, manufacture all current versions of the weapon and other unspecified precision-weapon systems, based on Rafael know-how. The Popeye has been recently selected by the Australian air force and is being evaluated by South Korea.
Source: Flight International