The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $385 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of U.S. most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region. The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats, and will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and other allied forces. The principal contractors will be Lockheed Martin Inc., Bethesda, MD; Chelton Inc., Marlow, United Kingdom; and L3 Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy twenty (20) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); thirty (30) M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS); thirty (30) Alternative Warhead (AW) Pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion Systems (IMPS); thirty (30) M31A2 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) High Explosive Pods with IMPS; thirty (30) XM403 Extended Range (ER)-GMLRS AW Pods; thirty (30) EM404 ER GMLRS Unitary Pods; ten (10) M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), Reduced Range Practice Rocket Pods (RRPRP); Vehicular Intercom System (AN/VIC-3) 3-Station; radio communication mounts; machine gun mounts; battle management system vehicle integration kits; wheel guards; ruggedized laptops; training equipment publications; spare/repair parts; support equipment; tools; test equipment; technical data technical and logistical support services.
The Lockheed Martin 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 U.S. Army M1140 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 5-ton truck frame. The M142 HIMARS is a strategic capability, improving homeland and important asset defense while reducing overall mission costs. The chassis was initially produced by BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems (formerly Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group Tactical Vehicle Systems Division), the original equipment manufacturer of the FMTV. In 2010, production of the chassis was taken over by the Oshkosh Corporation. This ended in 2017; both chassis and launcher system are now produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control in Camden, Arkansas. The launcher is C-130 transportable. The windows of the launcher truck are made of glass and layers of sapphire.
The M142 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). The vehicle’s targeting software was reworked so it can better fire while on a constantly moving and maneuvering launch platform. The HIMARS utilizes the same pod as the M270 MLRS uses, HIMARS ammunition also is interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1. The vehicle was also tested as a common launcher for both artillery rockets and the SLAMRAAM surface-launched variant of the AMRAAM anti-aircraft missile. The HIMARS supports Multi-Domain Operations for Maritime Operations, Next-Generation Munitions, Extended Range, Moving Targets (Land/Sea) and GPS connection with Air Mobility assets.
