Two major defense contractors announced the first successful live fire test of a new wheeled launcher vehicle capable of lobbing twice as many munitions as the U.S.-made Army High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS). The Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS), made by Lockheed Martin and Germany’s Rheinmetall, will be produced in Europe. It fires the same weapons as U.S.-made wheeled HIMARS and the heavier tracked M270 MLRS. Ukraine has used both of these systems to devastating effect on Russian troop and equipment concentrations, hardened defensive locations, bridges, radars and other targets.
This milestone comes amid a skyrocketing demand for mobile systems that can launch guided artillery rockets and short-range ballistic missiles, plus the ability to add new types of weapons in the future.
The first GMARS live fire took place at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the companies announced on Monday.
Like the tracked M270, the GMARS launcher can haul two pods that carry different types of weapons. As a result, GMARS can be armed with two Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) or four Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) or 12 standard or Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets. By comparison, the HIMARS launcher has one pod.
In addition, GMARS will have the potential to fire ground-launched cruise missiles and 122mm rockets in the future, according to Rheinmetall.
The White Sands test involved GMLRS.
Lockheed Martin told us they fired two GMLRS rockets with unitary warheads in the test at a “mid-range” distance without offering further specifics.
As we noted earlier, HIMARS like GMARS is a wheeled vehicle, though in an 8×8 configuration instead of the 6×6 configuration found on HIMARS. It is based on Rheinmetall’s HX vehicle series with a top speed of up to about 62 mph. One thing GMARS can’t do that HIMARS can is be rapidly deployed to forward locales via C-130.
Wheeled vehicles are easier to maintain than tracked ones, and are better for operating over roads and can go faster.
Those operating GMARS could have immediate access to existing stocks of munitions fired by HIMARS and M270, providing a logistically important interoperability of those weapons.
GMARS is one of several designs being floated for future mobile fire systems that can fire ATACMS, PrSMS and GMLRS.
As we wrote last year, Lockheed Martin unveiled a launcher designed to quadruple the number of munitions fired by HIMARS. Lockheed Martin displayed the launcher on a U.S. Marine Corps 10×10 MKR18 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) truck at the Human-Machine Integration Summit IV in November 2024.
France has also entered this market, as has South Korea, among others. South Korea provided Poland with the CTM-290, an ATACMS-like missile launched from the Homar-K multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). You can see that system in the following video.
The success of HIMARS and M270 in Ukraine has not been lost on other militaries. Many other nations field them, and Russia recently complained about the first HIMARS live firing in Estonia last month. The ability to move about the battlefield and put targets at risk anywhere with pinpoint accuracy within a 50-mile ring (for GMLRS, much longer for ballistic missiles), fire, and then scoot away before the enemy can fire back, is a massive force multiplier. These systems will be capable of firing the Extended Range GMLRS too, which will increase the range to 93-miles. Other weapons, from drones to cruise missiles, could also be integrated into the launcher pods.
HIMARS remains very popular and is deep in production. However, the fact that GMARS is co-produced by a European company and aimed at the NATO market could give it extra appeal for alliance member nations. It could also speed deliveries over HIMARS, with its thick order book.
It is unclear if or when GMARS will be fielded or by which nations. However, given the growing threat from Russia in Europe, as well as other threats abroad, there will likely be significant demand for a still relatively agile wheeled vehicle that doubles the firepower of HIMARS.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com