The announcement that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $23 million contract to produce missiles could mean good news for the local industry.

The contract, which will allow Troy’s local branch to produce 12 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range test missiles, will keep the company’s employees producing the same equipment.

Lockheed Spokeswoman Heather Kelly said she is unsure if this contract will create jobs locally, but she said at least, it will sustain them.

The contract is not a new one completely since it will allow the company to continue its development of JASSM-ER.

These missiles will be used in flight tests, six for the development flight test program and six in operational tests.

“The tests will demonstrate the maturity of the JASSM-ER design and will support a decision to proceed with low rate initial production of the missile in Troy during fall 2010,” Kelly said.

The JASSSM missiles are 2,000 pounds in weight and work in adverse weather conditions, day and night, according to a press release from Lockheed Martin.

The missiles are constructed in Troy then tested when launched on B1-B aircraft. Currently, the JASSM-ER has a 100 percent success rate in developmental flight tests.

Lockheed Martin employs 146,000 people worldwide.

“These tests will demonstrate the maturity of the JASSM-ER design and support the Milestone C decision to proceed with low rate initial production of the missile,” said Alan Jackson, director of the JASSM and JASSM-ER programs at Lockheed Martin.