Mlrs And Himars Are An Indispensible Part Of The Artillery

By Author: mlrs
Total Articles: 19
Comment this article

The multiple launch rocket system or the MLRS is a combat rocket artillery system. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has manufactured this system. This has been in operation in the United States Army and several other countries have also place their orders for it. The most recent member in the family of multiple launch rocket system is HIMARS or the high mobility artillery rocket system.

MLRS has impressive specifications. It is 22’ 6” long, 9’ 9” wide and weighs 55,000 lb. It has two pods, each having the capability of carrying 6 rockets or alternately it can carry two missiles in each of the two pods. The range of this weapon is remarkable – it is 300 miles or you can say 438 km. The multiple launch rocket system is also associated with the weapon system platform no and mostly referred to by M270.

M270 MLRS is an automatic system of high mobility. It is capable of firing surface to surface rockets and also ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System). It needs a crew of three men to operate it – a driver, a gunner and a section chief. 12 MLRS rockets can be fired by these men in less than 60 seconds, ...
... without having to leave the vehicle even once. This is a highly advanced system with the capability of self loading and self aiming. You can fire the rockets individually or in ripples. Between each rounds, the computer re-aims the launcher and hence maintains the accuracy in all the modes of firing. These are easy to move from one place to another with the help of a train or a transporter aircraft. MLRS can even move on the road with the top speed of 64 km/h.

HIMARS were also developed by the manufacturers of MLRS. They are highly mobile and are mounted on wheeled chassis, while maintaining the same efficiency of the MLRS firepower. They found a place in the defence services in the June of 2005 in the United States, although the full rate production was given for the first time in Dec 2005.

All the features of MLRS are retained in HIMARS. They are also self loading and autonomous. HIMARS vehicles are also fitted with ILMS (improved launcher mechanical system) and IFCS (improved fire control system). In March and May of 2008, successful test firing of the ATACMS missiles and GMLRS rockets took place respectively.

Just like the MLRS, a crew of three drives the HIMARS. But since the system is so advance and computerised that even a crew of two men can handle it or even if needed a single man can load and unload it. During missions, secured data about the target is transferred to the computer on the HIMARS and then the computer sets the aim and gives signals to the crew to load and fire promptly. HIMARS are more advanced than the MLRS as they can launch the whole range of MLRS ammunition and even their future variants.
MLRS and HIMARS