Lockheed Martin announced that it has delivered the 750th example of the M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher rotated artillery system to the US Army.
Due to the war events between Russia and Ukraine, the request for M142 HIMARS forced Lockheed Martin and the US Army, which manages the program for national needs, for Allied countries and international customers (FMS), to increase the annual production rate from 48 to 96 launchers.
To achieve the doubling of annual production, the US Department of War awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin worth approximately 3 billion dollars which allowed the company to upgrade its factories with new machinery and increase its workforce, while maintaining the quality of the HIMARS unchanged.
Evolution of the HIMARS system
The HIMARS system is rapidly evolving into a real missile launcher with the use of the GMLRS-ER, the ATACMS short-range tactical missile and the Precision Strike Missile, exponentially increasing the power and precision of fire over long distances.
The initial versions of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) are capable of hitting targets over 500 km away from the launch point with extreme precision; Lockheed Martin and the US Army are working on the Extende Range version which will be approximately 600/700 km and on a 1,000 km + range version which will also require a new, larger launcher.
The current status of the HIMARS program
Currently, the M142 HIMARS has been adopted by 14 countries including Italy which is in the process of purchasing 21 systems that will complement the M270s which are brought to the A2 standard capable of using GMLRS, GMLRS-ER and also PrSM where the Italian Army supplies this material.
Fonte Lockheed Martin
Foto credit @US Army
