Lockheed Martin upgrades HIMARS to launch anti-air missiles
M142 HIMARS (Photo: www.war.gov)
U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new
upgrade for its HIMARS
rocket artillery system that enables it to launch anti-air missiles, Ukrainian
outlet Defense Express reported on June 18.
The FLEX upgrade is built on Lockheed Martin’s FLEXFires technology ecosystem. In a company press release, Lockheed said FLEX offers customers “new munitions and autonomy options, expanding mission capability while retaining the accuracy and proven deterrent power of HIMARS.”
According to Defense Express, the FLEX modification allows
HIMARS to carry about twice as many rounds on the standard M1140 chassis,
roughly comparable to the M270 MLRS, by using a two-container configuration.
That configuration doubles the launcher’s firepower and can be fitted with
air-defense munitions, including PAC-3 interceptors used by the Patriot, the
company said.
An image provided to Defense Express shows two proposed configurations: two containers loaded with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Extended Range rounds, with six rockets in each container (12 total), and two containers fitted with air-defense launchers, with four missiles in each container (eight total). Lockheed did not specify whether the company plans to allow mixed loading of different missile types in the two containers.
Even without mixed loading, Defense Express said, the FLEX upgrade would make HIMARS more versatile: crews could quickly switch from striking ground targets to engaging aerial targets and vice versa.
Lockheed also said HIMARS FLEX can be integrated into
combined fire-control networks. Defense Express noted that in 2022 the Patriot
PAC-3 MSE missile was successfully decoupled from its base radar, meaning
targeting data can be passed to the missile by other stations or sensors and
coordinated via the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS).
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