Double the range of rockets for HIMARS One step closer to production

The test took place on Thursday, October 6 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the ER GMLRS round was fired from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which Lockheed Martin is also building. , to demonstrate its ability to operate also at shorter distances. . In A press release shared the following Monday, Lockheed Martin claimed that the ER GMLRS met all pass criteria in the short-range test flight scenario, meaning the rocket flew approximately 36 miles (59 km) to designated target area.

“Our next-generation GMLRS provides versatility for commanders, delivering ammunition choice at longer ranges with the same reliability and accuracy the system is known for,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This success brings the ER GMLRS closer to production as we complete the final phase of the development program.”

Even though the test was conducted over a much shorter range than what the ER GMLRS is under development, Lockheed Martin reported that Thursday’s test was nonetheless beneficial in confirming the flight path, range and the accuracy of the missile from launch points to impact. . The test also assessed the lethality of the ER GMLRS warhead, the system’s ability to integrate with its HIMARS launcher counterpart, as well as the missile’s overall performance in a close-range strike.

Lockheed Martin went on to add that the pod that holds the ready-to-fire rounds even underwent Stockpile to Target Sequence (STS) testing prior to launch, which is described as an effort to simulate the cumulative effects to which the ER GMLRS could face in the terrain between the factory and the launch. Essentially, STS testing is intended to help the manufacturer better understand the durability of the missile and launch pod container while removing the weapon from storage, preparing it for launch, transporting it, and ultimately firing it. . GMLRS rockets must be able to take hits when mounted on their all-terrain capable HIMARS or M270 launchers.

While the extended range of the new GMLRS variant doesn’t appear to have been the primary focus of Lockheed Martin’s most recent test, it’s certainly the driving factor behind the new offering overall, as it can reach around 93 miles (150 km) in all weather conditions. For perspective, the two predecessors of the ER GMLRS, the GMLRS Unitary and the GMLRS Alternative Warhead (AW), both offer a range of just over 43 miles (70 km).

The large increase in range means a single thrower can engage targets over a much larger area at any given time. When firing standard-range GMLRS rockets, a HIMARS can cover targets in an area of ​​approximately 5,800 square miles in any direction. However, when fitted with the new ER GMLRS, a launch vehicle could instead hit targets over approximately 27,000 square miles, or about five times what its predecessor could hit (note that these numbers include areas below its range minimum shot). This greatly increases the utility of each launcher and allows for much more distant targets to be engaged.

The U.S. Army began testing longer-range GMLRS concepts in 2018, and the initiative was spearheaded by the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) at the army. The effort was dubbed the Tail Controlled Multiple Launch Rocket System (TC-GMLRS) project and sought to improve the existing GMLRS rocket design by moving its flight control section from the nose to the tail of the rocket, as the army thought its previous location otherwise. limited the maximum potential range of the weapon.

By moving the fins towards the tail, the rocket’s aerodynamics were streamlined. This could cause it to fly longer and for longer distances after launch. A new GPS/INS guidance package was also needed to accommodate the new aileron positions, which the current iteration of the ER GMLRS still uses.

Lockheed Martin confirmed The war zone that the ER GMLRS also has a new engine that allows it to reach its extended range, although the company did not provide any additional details in this regard. An information sheet released by the company, however, reveals a plan to update the design of the missile’s launch pod with the ability to accommodate future variants up to 10 inches in diameter. Pod compatibility with old GMLRS will not be affected and ER GMLRS and their new pods will be compatible with HIMARS and MLRS M270 launchers. The brochure also notes that the ER GMLRS warhead will not deviate from the existing unitary and alternative warhead options of the old GMLRS for fixed-point targets and fixed-area targets, respectively.

It was unfortunately the newly relocated fins of the ER GMLRS that prevented the missile from successfully completing its first test flight in November 2020. The demonstration was the first of four that would constitute the technical development test phase of the program, and the company revealed that a “technical problem” with a singular fin caused the missile’s experiment an anomaly after launch.

Four months after the test failed, Lockheed Martin attempted a second a T in a statement to Defense News explained that they had used lessons learned from the failed inaugural trial to incorporate “minor improvements to mitigate recurrence”, but did not elaborate on those changes. The company says the test was successful and has released an announcement explaining that the ER GMLRS performed as expected in a nearly 50-mile (80 km) flight demonstration. Two additional tests were carried out through May last year, with the final evaluation demonstrating the rocket’s ability to engage a target at a distance of almost 84 miles (135 km).

Now, with the ultimate goal still to achieve the 93-mile (150 km) range that Lockheed Martin sets for ER GMLRS, the missile has about 15 miles to go. The next phases of the program will include a series of additional system qualification test flights, such as the one conducted this week, as well as operational test flights. Lockheed Martin has not commented on details of the remaining testing schedule.

Depending on the success of these last tests, Defense News also reported that ER GMLRS is expected to go into production in fiscal year 2023 under Lockheed Martin’s GMLRS contract with the military. The company said the ER GMLRS missiles would be produced at its factory in Camden, Arkansas, which over the years has manufactured more than 60,000 GMLRS shells.

There is an increasing need to increase the production of such systems as the demand for the rockets themselves and HIMARS launchers increases. The supply versus demand conundrum really started to come into focus this summer when the United States began to dip into its GMLRS stockpile to ramp up rocket deliveries to Ukraine as the country received consecutive HIMARS expeditions. Ukraine’s burn rate and demand for overseas capability understandably raised concerns about whether the U.S. military itself would have enough GMLRS to use in its own potential future conflict with, for example, China. You can read all about this issue in this past war zone characteristic.

When handed over specifically to the military, the ER GMLRS would present service with a great leap forward in flexibility. This is especially true when paired with HIMARS, as these wheeled vehicle-based launch vehicles are highly mobile and air-transportable, which would make ER GMLRS particularly ideal for distributed and expeditionary operations.

It is also possible that these improved guided rockets will end up in Ukraine. GMLRS and HIMARS supplied by US Arms Deliveries gained a cult following throughout the conflict due to their ability to provide what is virtually on-demand precision strike capability against critical targets such as munitions depots and Russian logistics nodes.

However, none of the guided rocket deliveries Ukraine has received since the start of the conflict, including the GMLRS, can reach particularly deep into Russian-held territory, where an ER GMLRS could certainly be advantageous. Although, with the military and Lockheed Martin still pushing the ER GMLRS to reach its ambitious 93-mile range, it may be a long way off until they hit the Ukrainian battlefield. That is, if the conflict is still ongoing at that time. Let’s hope that won’t be the case.

The war zone contacted Lockheed Martin for clarification on production figures and delivery times, but was referred to the military who have yet to respond to our request. Either way, the introduction of ER GMLRS into Army arsenals is getting closer and we will provide an update with expected dates once we receive them.

Contact the author: Emma@thewarzone.com