M142 HIMARS

M142 HIMARS
A M142 HIMARS launching a GMLRS rocket at the White Sands Missile Range, 2005
Type
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2005–present
Used bySee Operators
Wars
Production history
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Unit costDomestic cost:
$3.5 million per one launcher+carrier (FY 2014);[2] $4,901,857 per one launcher (FY 2024),[3] $168,000 per one M31 GMLRS (FY 2023)[4]
Export cost:
$19–20 million per one launcher+carrier (FY 2022); $434,000 per one M31ER GMLRS (FY 2022)[5]
No. built>600[6]
Specifications
Mass16,250 kg (35,800 lb)[7]
Length7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Width2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Height3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Crew3

Traverse360°
Effective firing rangedepends on armament
  • starting from 9 km (5.6 mi) armed with MLRS
  • up to 499 km (310 mi) armed with PrSM (in development)[citation needed]

Armorlight/medium
Main
armament
EngineCaterpillar 3116 ATAAC 6.6-liter diesel
290 hp[8]
Power/weight17.8 hp/t (13.27 kW/t)
Operational
range
480 km (300 mi)
Maximum speed 85 km/h (53 mph)
Accuracyvery high e.g. at 186 miles range (300 km) within 3 feet (1 meter)[9]

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS, /ˈhmɑːrz/) is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army and mounted on a standard U.S. Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) M1140 truck frame.

The HIMARS carries one pod with either six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets or one ATACMS missile. It is based on the U.S. Army's FMTV five-ton truck, and is capable of launching all rockets in the Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions. HIMARS ammunition pods are interchangeable with the M270 MLRS. It has a single pod, as opposed to the standard two for the M270 and its variants.

The launcher can be transported by C-17 Globemaster, C-5 Galaxy, and Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.[10] The FMTV truck that transports the HIMARS was initially produced by Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group Tactical Vehicle Systems Division, the original equipment manufacturer of the FMTV. It was produced by the Oshkosh Corporation from 2010 to 2017.[11]

  1. ^ "Exclusive: US deploys long-range artillery system to southern Syria for first time". CNN. 13 June 2017.
  2. ^ Oestergaard, Joakim. "About the HIMARS". Aeroweb. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Missiles Procurement budget Justification Book" (PDF).
  4. ^ Parsons, Dan (31 May 2022). "Ukraine To Get Guided Rockets, But Not Ones Able To Reach Far Into Russia (Updated)". The Drive.
  5. ^ "HIMARS price increase doesn't add up". 22 August 2023.
  6. ^ "HIMARS". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  7. ^ "High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) — M142". USAASC.
  8. ^ "Himars". Military today. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  9. ^ McFadden, Christopher (2 August 2022). "Watch the terrifying power of HIMARS with this footage from RIMPAC 2022". interestingengineering.com.
  10. ^ US new Weapons 2017: The Powerful M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System HIMARS. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017 – via YouTube. Video unavailable
  11. ^ "Lockheed Martin Delivers First HIMARS Vehicle Produced 100 Percent in Camden Arkansas". Lockheed Martin. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.