HIMARS HIGH MOBILITY ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM, USA
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is the newest member of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family. HIMARS is a highly-mobile artillery rocket system offering the firepower of MLRS on a wheeled chassis. HIMARS was developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control under an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) programme, placed in 1996. In January 2000, Lockheed Martin was awarded an EMD (engineering and manufacturing development) contract to provide six HIMARS launchers. A further two HIMARS launchers were ordered under a two year user evaluation program for the US Marines Corps.
In March 2003, the US Army and Marine Corps signed a contract for the low-rate initial production (LRIP) of 89 launchers for the Army and four for the USMC. A second LRIP contract was awarded in January 2004 for 25 launchers for the Army and one for the USMC. A third was awarded in January 2005 for 37 launchers for the Army and one for the USMC. A total procurement of 900 launchers is planned. In November 2004, HIMARS successfully completed Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E). Three prototype HIMARS launchers were successfully used in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
HIMARS entered service in June 2005 with the 27th Field Artillery, 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The purpose of HIMARS is to engage and defeat artillery, air defence concentrations, trucks, light armour and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations. HIMARS is able to launch its weapons and move away from the area at high speed before enemy forces are able to locate the launch site.
HIMARS FIRE CONTROL
HIMARS retains the same self-loading and autonomous features installed on the MLRS. The Improved Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS) upgrade and electronics of the Improved Fire Control System (IFCS), now being implemented onto MLRS M270 launchers, will be standard equipment on production HIMARS vehicles.
HIMARS is operated by a crew of three - driver, gunner and section chief - but the computer-based fire control system enables a crew of two or even a single soldier to load and unload the system. The fire control system includes video, keyboard control, a gigabyte of programme storage and global positioning system. The fire control computer allows firing missions to be carried out in automatic or manual mode.
In a typical mission, a command and control post would transmit the selected target data via a secure data link to the HIMARS on-board launch computer. The computer then aims the launcher and provides prompt signals to the crew to arm and fire a pre-selected number of rounds. The launcher can aim at a target in just 16 seconds. It is possible for the crew to select preprogrammed multiple mission sequences which have been stored in the computer.
HIGH MOBILITY ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEM MUNITIONS
In addition to the standard MLRS round, HIMARS is capable of launching the entire MLRS family of munitions, including the Extended-Range Rocket, the Reduced Range Practice Rocket and all future variants. HIMARS carries a single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile.
The Extended-Range MLRS Rocket (ER-MLRS) improves the basic M26 range of 32km to more than 45km and the area of influence by 107%. The extension of the rocket motor has resulted in a reduction in the payload to 518 M85 grenades, but the dispersion of the grenades is improved for better effectiveness with fewer grenades.
In April 2004, HIMARS successfully test fired the new extended range guided rocket GMLRS, with a range of more than 70km. The Lockheed Martin GMLRS rocket has a GPS (global positioning system) and inertial guidance package and small canards on the rocket nose to enhance accuracy. GMLRS completed System Development and Demonstration (SDD) tests in December 2002 and entered low-rate initial production in April 2003. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is planned for 2006, but the system has been operationally deployed since September 2005 in Iraq. The GMLRS is an international programme involving UK, Italy, France and Germany as well as the US. The industrial team includes Diehl, MBDA and FiatAvio.
ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM (ATACMS)
HIMARS is capable of firing the long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) guided missile. The ATACMS family includes the Block 1, Block 1A and Block 1A Unitary missiles. The Block I missile delivers 950 anti-personnel anti-materiel (AP/AM) baseball-sized M74 submunitions to ranges exceeding 165km. The Block IA missile range exceeds 300km by reducing the submunition payload to 300 bomblets and adding GPS guidance. The Block 1A unitary missile, with a single-burst warhead, was first deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March/April 2003.
The program to develop the Block II missile, with GPS and 13 BAT (Brilliant Anti-Tank) submissiles, and Block IIA missile, with six improved BAT submissiles, was cancelled in February 2003.
VEHICLE
HIMARS will carry a single six-pack of rockets on the Army's new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 6x6 all-wheel drive 5t truck supplied by Stewart and Stevenson, Texas. The HIMARS vehicle weighs approximately 24,000lb compared to more than 44,000lb for the MLRS M270 launcher.
HIMARS is transportable on the C-130 aircraft, allowing the system to be moved into areas previously inaccessible to the larger C-141 and C-5 aircraft required for the M270 launch vehicle.
HIMARS disparando el misil ATACMS, que cuenta con un alcance de hasta 300km en su ultma version
HIMARS disparando el cohete GMLRS, con un alcance de hasta 70km
La municion convencional del HIMARS (M26) cuenta con un alcance maximo de entre 32 y 45km segun la version
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