Lockheed Martin to build more HIMARS
Lockheed Martin has been contracted to produce a new run of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System – HIMARS – launchers and associated hardware for the US Army, US Marine Corps, Romania and Poland under a $492 million contract, marking Poland’s first acquisition of HIMARS launchers.
CAPTION: United States Marine Corps and United States Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems perform a live firing drill at Plains Airfield during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.
The contract calls for the production and delivery of HIMARS launchers and associated equipment by 2022.
The HIMARS vehicles will be produced from the ground up at Lockheed Martin’s award-winning Camden, Arkansas, Precision Fires Center of Excellence.
vice president of Precision Fires/Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin Gaylia Campbell said Lockheed Martin was very pleased that Poland had procured its first HIMARS launchers.
“These new HIMARS launchers will provide unparalleled mobile firepower to light and early entry forces, and our allies can count on Lockheed Martin’s ongoing support in maintaining these combat-proven capabilities,” Mr Campbell said.
HIMARS launchers have exceeded 1.4 million operating hours and are currently demonstrating an operational reliability over six times the specified requirement.
HIMARS is a lightweight mobile launcher, transportable via C-130 and larger aircraft for rapid deployment, that fires Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. HIMARS consists of a launcher loader module and fire control system mounted on a five-ton truck chassis. A specialised armoured cab provides additional protection to the three crew members that operate the system.
Lockheed Martin’s effectiveness and reliability combined with performance, interoperability, joint coalition operations and the added value of joint munitions procurement make HIMARS a sound option for nations seeking effective precision fires option for missions.
For more than 40 years, Lockheed Martin has been the leading designer and manufacturer of long-range, surface-to-surface precision strike solutions, providing highly reliable, combat-proven systems like MLRS, HIMARS, ATACMS and GMLRS to domestic and international customers.
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Thanks Brian.
I ask because we seem to have a history of sending our troops to train with such US equipment before an eventual purchase (See M1A1, Predator etc), and have read that we have had people in the ‘States training on the HIMAS for some time. Makes me suspect we are at least very interested. I love the idea of Army having the ability to hit targets hundreds of km away. Interesting also that Defence seems to have backed away from the K9 as auto-choice for protected mobile fires.
Could a realistic argument be made for both platforms? (Other than the obvious rise of a militant and aggressive China) ? I would have thought the K9 would have a big cost effectiveness advantage over HIMARS, but my knowledge is obviously limited
Does anyone have an idea of the difference in cost between these platforms? (K9/HIMARS)
So, is the ADF going to purchase the HIMARS? How many would be likely if we do?
Hi Richard. I’ve heard no talk (official or otherwise) about Australia buying HIMARS. But, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to think this could satisfy the PM’s desire to build ‘self-propelled artillery’ in Bendigo.