In order to increase fire power in the field artillery line (armed), the Australian Army will be strengthened with the MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) weapon system produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles.
This news is the fruit of the approval of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) which has announced the potential sale of 20 M142 HIMARS units to Australia on May 26, 2022.
The DCSA approval also includes the sale of 30 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), a total of US$385 million (or Aus$542 million).
In the document released by DCSA, the sales package to Australia is complete, namely 30 units of Alternative Warhead Pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion Systems (IMPS), 30 units of M31A2 GMLRS Unitary High Explosive Pods with IMPS, 30 units of XM403 Extended Range GMLRS AW Pods, 30 EM404 ER GMLRS Unitary Pods, and 10 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles.
The armed defense equipment procurement program for the Australian Army is said to fulfill the Australian Army's Project LAND 8113 Phase 1 long-range fires requirement which has been launched since 2016, where there is a need to deploy heavy artillery in a short time using C-130 Hercules and C-cargo aircraft. 17 Globemasters.
From the specifications, HIMARS can reach targets ranging from 2 to 300 kilometers. As the driving platform is a 5-Ton FMTV truck. The truck can travel at a speed of 85 km per hour with a range of up to 480 km.
With the support of a crew of 3 (gunner, driver, and launch commander), the full weight of one HIMARS unit can reach 11 tons. In one combat title, the M142 HIMARS can carry 6 x 227mm M270 series rockets or 1 MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missile.
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While the M30A2 GLMRS is a long-range rocket system with a range of up to 150 km. The GPS/INS guided rocket is carried in 12 pods which can be quickly unloaded and reloaded onto the launch vehicle. Alternatively, using a different sleeve, the pod can carry two larger ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km, or one ATACMS and six M30A2s.
The US Army (US Army) and US Marine Corps (USMC) HIMARS systems have been regular visitors to mainland Australia for Exercise Talisman Saber, and for annual Marine Corps rotational deployments to the Northern Territory in recent years. In the regional area, Singapore has already operated HIMARS with a total of 18 units.
In August 2021, the US Army also brought M142 HIMSRS to Indonesia, which was involved in the Garuda Shield 15/2021 Live Fire Exercise event in Baturaja, South Sumatra.
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