M142 HIMARS

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army, mounted on a standard Army M1140 truck frame.

M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System
HIMARS at the White Sands Missile Range in January 2005.
TypeRocket artillery, Tactical ballistic
Place of originUnited States
Service history
WarsWar in Afghanistan
Syrian Civil War[1]
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)[2]
Production history
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control
BAE Systems (Chassis)
Unit cost$5.1 million (cost of launcher and all ammo required) (2014)[3] (equivalent to $5.5 million in 2019)[4]
No. built414 [5]
Specifications
Mass35,800[6] lb (16,200 kg)
Length7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Width2.4 m (7 ft 10.5 in)
Height3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Crew3
Caliber227 mm (8.9 in)
Traverse360
Rate of fire1, 2, 4, All 6
Effective firing rangebetween 2 km (1.2 mi) and 300 km (190 mi)
Maximum firing range300 km (190 mi)
Armorlight
Operational
range
480 km (298 mi)
Maximum speed 85 km/h (52.8 mph)
AccuracyGuided

The HIMARS carries six rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS missile on the U.S. Army's new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) five-ton truck, and can launch the entire Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM). HIMARS ammunition is interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1, however it is only able to carry one pod rather than the standard two for the M270 and A1 variants.

The launcher is C-130 transportable.[7] The chassis is produced by BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems (formerly Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group Tactical Vehicle Systems Division), the OEM of the FMTV. The rocket launching system is produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control.

Deployment

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is the light, wheeled version of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The HIMARS utilizes the same pod as the M270 MLRS uses. A pod can hold six rockets or a single missile. The windows are made of glass and layers of sapphire.[8]

The 18th Field Artillery Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina was the initial army test bed unit for the M142 HIMARS. C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment began field testing 3 HIMARS prototypes in all types of training events and environments in 1998 as a residual of the Rapid Force Projection Initiative (RFPI) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD). In 2002, the United States Marine Corps arranged with the United States Army to acquire 40 of the systems. Fielding began in 2005. In July 2007, Marines from Fox Battery 2nd Battalion 14th Marine Regiment from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma were deployed to the Al Anbar province of Iraq, the first Marine unit to use the HIMARS in combat.

HIMARS was also tested as a common launcher for both artillery rockets and the SLAMRAAM surface-launched variant of the AMRAAM anti-aircraft missile.[9]

In October 2017, a Marine Corps HIMARS fired a rocket while at sea against a land target for the first time from the deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage, demonstrating the system's ability to operate while on ships to deliver precision fire from a standoff range from shore defenses.[10] The vehicle's targeting software was reworked so it can better fire while on a constantly moving and maneuvering launch platform.[11]

Singapore

As of September 2007, the Singapore Army proposed to acquire HIMARS systems. The package includes 24 HIMARS launchers, 9 FMTV 5-Ton Trucks and XM31 unitary HE GMLRS pods, plus associated support and communications equipment and services. This proposed package is notable for not involving the M-26 unguided MLRS rockets. In late 2009, Singapore took delivery of the first HIMARS firing unit and achieved Full Operational Capability. The 23rd Battalion, Singapore artillery commissioned its HIMARS battery on 5 September 2011. It marks the first fully GPS-guided HIMARS unit.

Operational history

On February 14, 2010, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan indicated in a press release that it was thought that two rockets fired from a HIMARS unit fell 300 metres short of their intended target and killed 12 civilians during Operation Moshtarak. ISAF suspended the use of the HIMARS until a full review of the incident was completed.[12] A British officer later said that the rockets were on target, that the target was in use by the Taliban, and use of the system has been reinstated.[13] Reports indicate that the civilian deaths were due to the Taliban's use of an occupied dwelling; the presence of civilians at that location was not known to the ISAF forces.[14] An October 21, 2010 report in the New York Times credited HIMARS with aiding the NATO offensive in Kandahar by targeting Taliban commanders' hideouts, forcing many to flee to Pakistan, at least temporarily.[15]

In November 2015, the United States Army revealed they had deployed the HIMARS to Iraq, firing at least 400 rockets at the Islamic State since the beginning of summer.[16] HIMARS detachments were sent to Al Asad Airbase and Al-Taqaddum Air Base in Al Anbar Governorate. On 4 March 2016, Army HIMARS fired rockets into Syria in support of Syrian rebels fighting ISIL for the first time, with the launchers based in neighboring Jordan.[17]

In January 2016, Lockheed announced the HIMARS had reached 1 million operational hours with U.S. forces, achieving a 99 percent operational readiness rate.[18]

On April 26, 2016, it was announced that the U.S. would be deploying the HIMARS in Turkey near the border with Syria as part of the battle with ISIL.[19] In early September, international media and the U.S. State Department reported a newly deployed HIMARS had engaged ISIL targets in Syria near the Turkish border.[20][21][22]

In October 2016, HIMARS were stationed at Qayyarah Airfield West, some 65 kilometers south of Mosul, taking part in the Battle of Mosul.[23]

On June 14, 2017, a HIMARS was deployed at Al-Tanf Syria to support U.S.-backed rebels in the area.[24][25]

On May 24, 2018, a HIMARS strike killed 50 Taliban fighters and leaders in Musa Qala, Afghanistan.[26] Three rockets struck the building within a 14-second timespan.[27]

Starting in September 2018, US support forces have been coordinating with Syrian Democratic Forces fighting to defeat ISIS in east Syria in the Deir ez-Zor campaign. On a daily basis, they have struck ISIS positions with HIMARS rockets, sometimes using as many as 30 rockets per day.[28][29][30][31][32] The HIMARS systems used in this support operation are located in the Omar Oilfields, some 25 km north of the ISIS-controlled targets.[33]

Specifications
An M28 Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR) is launched from a HIMARS
Crew: 3: Gunner, Driver, and Launcher Chief
Weight: 16,200 kg (35,800 lb)
Length: 7 m
Width: 2.4 m
Height: 3.2 m
Vehicle Range: 480 km
Road Speed: 85 km/hour
Armament: 6 × 227 mm M26, M30/M31 series rockets or 1 MGM-140 ATACMS missile

Lockheed Martin UK and INSYS had jointly developed a demonstrator rocket artillery system similar to HIMARS for the British Army's 'Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System/Rocket' (LIMAWS(R)) program. The system consisted of a single MLRS pod, mounted on a Supacat SPV600 chassis.[34] The LIMAWS(R) programs was cancelled in September 2007.[35]

Operators
Map with HIMARS operators in blue

Current operators
 United States

 Singapore

 United Arab Emirates

 Jordan

  • Jordanian Army (12)
    • 29th HIMARS Battalion, Jordan Royal Artillery Command

Potential and future operators
 Canada

The Department of National Defence considered the purchase of HIMARS. The former Chief of the Land Staff, Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, said the plan to acquire rocket launchers was something that "would be considered much further down the road—possibly in the 2012 time frame.[38][39][40][41]

 Qatar

In December 2012, Qatar notified the U.S. of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 7 M142 HIMARS systems, as well as 60 M57 MGM-140 ATACMS Block 1A T2K unitary rockets and 30 M31A1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) unitary rockets. The deal would cost an estimated $406 million.[42]

 Poland

New Multiple Launch Rocket System. Program WR-300 "Homar" Poland. Multiple Launch Rocket System Cooperation between Huta Stalowa Wola, ZM Mesko and Lockheed Martin. 160 launchers are to be acquired, and to be mounted on a Jelcz 663 6x6 chassis.[43][44] In October 2018, Poland officially requested the purchase of the rocket launchers, after the US Department of Defense cleared the purchase of up to 56 launchers in November 2017.[45][46] On 29 November 2018 US State Department approved the sale to Poland. [47]

 Romania

In 2017 the US State Department has authorized the sale of 54 HIMARS launch vehicles, related resupply systems and ammunition to Romania.[48] In February 2018 the Romanian government approved the purchase.[49][50][51]

 Philippines

The South China Morning Post, citing a report from the Center for a New American Security on an article dated 02 April 2019, said that the governments of the Philippines and the United States are discussing the potential sale or deployment of the HIMARS to the former to deter China's "militarization" of artificial islands in contested areas of the South China Sea. If deployed, the long-range, precision-guided rockets fired by the system would be able to strike Chinese man-made islands on reefs in the Spratly Islands. However, the two sides have been unable to reach a deal because the HIMARS could be too expensive for the Philippines given its limited budget.[52]

 Taiwan (Republic of China)

In October 2020, the Trump administration notified Congress of plans to sell HIMARS to Taiwan.[53]

See also

References
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  2. Gung Ho Vids. "HIMARS Strike At Night In Iraq • 2016 Mosul Advance" – via YouTube.
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  10. Marines launch rocket from amphibious ship to destroy land target 70 km away - Defensenews.com, 24 October 2017
  11. Marines Fire HIMARS From Ship in Sea Control Experiment With Navy - News.USNI.org, 24 October 2017
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