A brand new palletized ground-based launcher idea that may be loaded with as much as two dozen 227mm guided artillery rockets at a time – 4 occasions what an M142 Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) can pack directly – just lately broke cowl. The launch system is designed to be carried on a 10-wheeled cargo truck and may also hearth different weapons, together with short-range ballistic missiles and surface-to-air interceptors.
Lockheed Martin displayed the launcher on a U.S. Marine Corps 10×10 MKR18 Logistics Automobile System Substitute (LVSR) truck on the Human-Machine Integration Summit IV final week. U.S. Military’s Futures Command hosted the occasion at Texas A&M College’s George H.W. Bush Fight Growth Complicated (BCDC).
The LSVR may be very related, however not an identical to the Military’s 10×10 M1075 Palletized Load System (PLS) truck. Oshkosh Protection manufactures each automobiles, which advanced from the .
A Marine MKR18 LVSR truck with a extra typical payload (a transport container). USMC
“This Lockheed Martin proof-of-concept configuration demonstrates how a logistics automobile within the discipline can quickly transition to a launcher delivering a deep journal of GMLRS, ATACMS or PrSM,” an organization spokesperson advised The Conflict Zone.
The 227mm Guided A number of Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) household of 227mm precision-guided artillery rockets, together with the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and Military Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles, are all Lockheed Martin merchandise. The corporate collectively refers to them because the MLRS Household of Munitions (MFOM).
Members of the MFOM all are available in standardized ammunition ‘pods,’ which may maintain six GMLRS rockets, two PrSMs, or a single ATACMS. The wheeled M142 HIMARS will be loaded with considered one of these pods at a time, whereas tracked M270 MLRS launch automobiles can carry two directly.
A mock-up of an ATACMS missile subsequent to considered one of a standardized ammunition ‘pod.’ US Military
An M270 MLRS launcher fires a 227mm rocket. Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin
A HIMARS launcher fires an ATACMS missile. US Military A US Military HIMARS launcher fires an ATACMS missile. US Military
Whether or not another munitions may already be appropriate with the brand new launcher idea is unclear. Comply with-on variants and derivates of the PrSM are already in lively growth for the Military. This features a model with an extra seeker system that has a demonstrated functionality to have interaction shifting ships. There are additionally plans for a sort with a most vary of at the least 1,000 kilometers (roughly 621 miles), which may incorporate an air-breathing propulsion system. The baseline PrSM has a spread of at the least 310 miles (500 kilometers), which may develop to 400 miles (650 kilometers) sooner or later.
A PrSM is fired throughout a check. Lockheed Martin
The brand new launcher idea “can also be utilized to Built-in Air Missile Protection interceptors,” the Lockheed Martin spokesperson did inform The Conflict Zone, however supplied no particular examples.
Lockheed Martin is the producer of the combat-proven PAC-3 collection. The PAC-3 household is at present used within the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, however can also be now being developed in a configuration appropriate with Mk 41 Vertical Launch Programs (VLS). Variants and derivatives of the Mk 41, yet one more a part of Lockheed Martin’s portfolio, are discovered on varied U.S. and overseas warships, in addition to in static and cell ground-based configurations.
A PAC-3 MSE interceptor seen being fired from a typical launcher used with the Patriot surface-to-air missile system. DOD A Patriot launcher fires a more recent PAC-3-series missile throughout a check. DoD
The most recent PAC-3 MSE variant is alleged to be simply over 17 ft lengthy (5.3 meters) in size, which is notably longer than the MFOM pod kind issue. The launch system proven on the latest Human-Machine Integration Summit does seem to have sufficient area to load longer weapons.
PAC-3-series interceptors already provide higher journal depth for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system utilizing present trailer-based launchers, as proven on this graphic. Lockheed Martin A graphic displaying varied Patriot launcher varieties and attainable load configurations. Lockheed Martin
There are surface-to-air interceptors from different firms which may even be choices to be used with this new launcher idea. As an illustration, the Military is within the strategy of buying the Enduring Defend system, which at present makes use of the AIM-9X Sidewinder as its main interceptor. The service already needs to amass one other missile providing functionality akin to the AIM-120D Superior Medium-Vary Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for that system. The Marine Corps can also be individually working to discipline a service-specific model of Israel’s Iron Dome system and the Tamir interceptor that goes with it.
It’s also price noting right here that an LVSR-based launcher has been utilized in earlier testing of the Operational Fires (OpFires) hypersonic missile, which is considerably bigger than an MFOM pod. OpFires is a Protection Superior Analysis Initiatives Company (DARPA) program. Lockheed Martin has been growing the missile, which is tipped with an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide automobile, in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and Dynetics (a subsidiary of Leidos).
A rendering of the LVSR-based OpFires launcher loaded with three of these hypersonic missiles. Lockheed Martin
Altogether, Lockheed Martin says its new ground-based launcher idea provides a manner “to deploy offensive and defensive fires from the identical platform and logistics footprint.”
The palletized launcher does actually provide extra onboard journal depth than HIMARS or MLRS on a cell platform. It’s unclear whether or not the launch system will be unloaded and employed from a static place on land or the deck of a ship, however this appears very believable and will broaden its general flexibility. In an air and missile protection configuration, the launch system may additionally leverage rising networking capabilities just like the Military’s Built-in Battle Command System (IBCS) to tie in with present and future radars and different sensors.
On the similar time, a system that requires an LVSR-sized truck to maneuver it round is by definition comparatively giant. HIMARS was notably developed particularly to offer MLRS-like functionality, however in a package deal that was extra readily deployable, particularly by air by way of a C-130-sized plane. The worth of the HIMARS’ means to conduct shoot-and-scoot operations and its normal mobility have been on full show within the ongoing battle in Ukraine.
HIMARS softening up Russian strains. Additionally, good shoot and scoot.
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In the same vein, Military officers have publicly disclosed an curiosity to find methods, if attainable, to shrink down the dimensions of its Typhon ground-based missile system to make it simpler to deploy and function. The Typhon system, often known as the Mid-Vary Functionality (MRC), contains trailer-based Mk 41 VLS-derived launchers able to firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, in addition to multi-purpose SM-6 missiles. A single Typhon launcher will be loaded with simply 4 missiles directly.
A bunch of 4 launchers, in addition to a trailer-based command submit, which kind the core of a single Typhon system battery. US Military A full battery set of 4 Typhon launchers, in addition to the trailer-based command submit. US Military
“So, the Mid-Vary Functionality, we fielded it, we’ve put it into the theater, however we’re studying classes on how we will enhance the subsequent evolutions of that,” Military Col. Michael Rose, commander of the third Multi-Area Job Drive (MDTF) headquartered at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, mentioned on the Affiliation of the U.S. Military’s (AUSA) fundamental annual conference in October. “How can we make it extra cell? How can we make it smaller? How can we make it extra agile? How can we make use of it most successfully and the way can we maintain it? Loads of these classes are feeding again into our RDT&E [research, development, test, and evaluations] and acquisitions professionals to enhance and improve that new operational functionality.”
The Military has additionally been experimenting with an uncrewed HIMARS spinoff known as the Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher (AML) with a specific deal with increasing ground-based stand-off strike capability with out vital further manpower necessities.
An uncrewed Autonomous Multi-domain Launcher (AML) fires a rocket throughout a check. US Military
For its half, the Marine Corps is at present pushing forward with fielding a lot smaller, remotely operated ground-based missile launchers derived from the 4×4 Joint Mild Tactical Automobile (JLTV) quite than programs primarily based on bigger platforms just like the LVSR. That is a part of an ongoing reorientation of the service’s whole power construction round ideas of operations that focus closely on the power to comparatively quickly redeploy and redeploy forces from one ahead location to a different.
Observations from the battle in Ukraine have prompted vital new curiosity within the MFOM, particularly in Europe, although nonetheless primarily paired with the lighter-weight HIMARS launcher. Lockheed Martin can also be working with Germany’s Rheinmetall on a brand new wheeled launcher, the World Cellular Artillery Rocket System (GMARS), which will be loaded with two MFOM pods at a time.
Lockheed Martin’s new palletized launcher idea may nonetheless be enticing to the U.S. army for sure functions, particularly given its flexibility for use for surface-to-surface strikes and air and missile protection, in addition to allies and companions with totally different mobility and deployability necessities.
Contact the writer: joe@twz.com