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Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM) refers to the ammunition that can be fired by the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers.[1][2] These weapons systems have been developed by the United States Department of Defense, and are used by themselves and allied countries.[1] Whilst MFOM typically indicates United States developed munitions, other countries have created compatible weaponry that is also listed in the article.

MLRS M26 and M28

M26 and M28 rocket production began in 1980. Until 2005 they were the only rockets available for the M270 system. When production of the M26 series ceased in 2001 a total of 506,718 rockets had been produced.[3] Each rocket pod contains 6 identical rockets.

M26

M26 rockets and its derivatives were removed from the US Army's active inventory in June 2009, due to their submunitions not satisfying a July 2008 Department of Defense policy directive on cluster munitions issued under President George W. Bush that US cluster munitions that result in a rate of more than a 1% of unexploded ordnance must be destroyed by the end of 2018.[4] (The United States is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions which prohibits them.) In November 2017, the Trump administration replaced the July 2008 policy directive on cluster munitions with a new policy directive, which abandons the requirement to destroy cluster munitions by the end of 2018 and gave Unified Combatant Command commanders the authority to approve employing cluster munitions. The last use of M26 rockets occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.[4]

  • M26 rockets carrying 644 DPICM M77 submunitions. Range: 15–32 kilometres (9.3–19.9 mi).[3] The submunitions in each rocket cover an area of 0.23 km2. Dubbed "Steel Rain" by Iraqi soldiers, M26 rockets were used extensively during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Initially fielded in 1983, the rockets have a shelf life of 25 years.[5] M26 rockets were removed from the US Army's active inventory in June 2009 and the remaining rockets are being destroyed.[6] Italy destroyed its stock of 3,894 M26 rockets by 31 October 2015.[7] The UK and the Netherlands destroyed their stock of 60,000 M26 rockets by 2013, while France destroyed its stock of 22,000 M26 rockets by 2017.[8] Germany destroyed its stock of 26,000 M26 rockets by 25 November 2015.[9][10] The US commenced the destruction of its M26 stocks in 2007, when the US Army requested $109 million for the destruction of 98,904 M26 MLRS rockets from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2012.[4]
  • M26A1 ER rockets carrying 518 M85 submunitions. Range: 15–45 kilometres (9.3–28.0 mi).[3] The M85 submunitions are identical to the M77 submunitions, with the exception of the fuze. The M85 use the M235 mechanical/electronic self-destruct fuze to reduce hazardous duds and the potential for fratricide or collateral damage.[11] M26A1 ER rockets have been retired from US Army service and the remaining rockets are being destroyed.[citation needed]
  • M26A2 ER rockets carrying 518 M77 submunitions. Interim solution until the M26A1 ER entered service. Range: 15–45 kilometres (9.3–28.0 mi).[3] The M26A2 ER rockets have been retired from US Army service and the remaining rockets are being[when?] destroyed.[6]

M28

The M28 rockets are a variant of the unguided M26 rockets of the M270 system.[3] Each rocket pod contains 6 identical rockets.

  • M28 practice rockets. A M26 variant with three ballast containers and three smoke marking containers in place of the submunition payload. Production ceased in favor of the M28A1.
  • M28A1 Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR) with blunt nose. Range reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). Production ceased in favor of the M28A2.
  • M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) with blunt nose. Range reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi).
  • AT2 German M26 variant carrying 28 AT2 anti-tank mines. Range: 15–38 kilometres (9.3–23.6 mi)

GMLRS

GMLRS rockets have an extended range and add GPS-aided guidance to their Inertial Navigation System. Flight control is accomplished by four forward-mounted canards driven by electromechanical actuators. GMLRS rockets were introduced in 2005 and can be fired from the M270A1 and M270A2, the European M270A1 variants (British Army M270B1, German Army MARS II, French Army Lance Roquette Unitaire (LRU), Italian Army MLRS Improved (MLRS-I), Finnish Army M270D1), and the lighter M142. M30 and M31 rockets are, except for their warheads, identical.[12] As of December 2021, 50,000 GMLRS rockets had been produced,[13] with yearly production then exceeding 9,000 rockets. Each rocket pod contains 6 identical rockets.

  • M30 rockets carrying 404 DPICM M101 submunitions. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). 3,936 produced between 2004 and 2009, production ceased in favor of the M30A1.[12] The remaining M30 rockets are being updated with either the M30A1 or M31A1 warhead.[3]
  • M30A1 rockets with Alternative Warhead (AW). Range: 15–92 km (9.3–57.2 mi). GMLRS rocket that replaces the M30's submunitions with approximately 182,000 pre-formed tungsten fragments for area effects without unexploded ordnance.[14] Entered production in 2015.[12][3] This warhead is superior not just because it doesn't use cluster munitions but is also superior to a normal high explosive round: "A high explosive round is very impressive because it produces a big bomb and large pieces of shrapnel, but this round is small pellets and covers a much larger area."[15]
  • M30A2 rockets with Alternative Warhead (AW). Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M30A1 with Insensitive Munition Propulsion System (IMPS). Only M30 variant in production since 2019.[16]
  • M31 rockets with 200 pounds (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Entered production in 2005. The warhead is produced by General Dynamics and contains 51 pounds of PBX-109 high explosive in a steel blast-fragmentation case.[17]
  • M31A1 rockets with 200 pounds (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M31 with new multi-mode fuze that added airburst to the M31's fuze point detonation and delay.[18]
  • M31A2 rockets with 200 pounds (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M31A1 with Insensitive Munition Propulsion System (IMPS). Only M31 variant in production since 2019.[citation needed]
  • M32 SMArt German GMLRS variant produced by Diehl Defence carrying 4 SMArt anti-tank submunitions and a new flight software. Demonstrated but never ordered. M32 was not an official designation.[citation needed]
  • ER GMLRS rockets with extended range of up to 150 km (93 mi).[19] Rockets use a slightly increased rocket motor size, a newly designed hull, and tail-driven guidance, while still containing six per pod. It will come in unitary and AW variants.[20] The first successful test flight of a ER GMLRS occurred in March 2021.[21] In early 2021, Lockheed Martin anticipated cutting the ER into its production line in the fiscal year 2023 contract award and was planning to produce the new rockets at its Camden facility.[22] In 2022 Finland became the first foreign customer to order ER GMLRS.[23]

ATACMS

Main article: ATACMS

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a series of 610 mm surface-to-surface missile (SSM) with a range of up to 300 km (190 mi). Each rocket pod contains one ATACMS missile. As of 2022, only the M48, M57, and M57E1 remain in the US military's arsenal.

  • M39 (ATACMS BLOCK I) missile with inertial guidance. The missile carries 950 M74 Anti-personnel and Anti‑materiel (APAM) bomblets. Range: 25–165 km (16–103 mi). 1,650 M39 were produced between 1990 and 1997, when production ceased in favor of the M39A1. During Desert Storm 32 M39 were fired at Iraqi targets, and during Operation Iraqi Freedom a further 379 M39 were fired.[12][3] The remaining M39 missiles are being updated to M57E1 missiles.[24][25] The M39 is the only ATACMS variant, which can be fired by all M270 and M142 variants.
  • M39A1 (ATACMS BLOCK IA) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The missile carries 300 M74 APAM bomblets. Range: 20–300 km (12–186 mi). 610 M39A1 were produced between 1997 and 2003. During Operation Iraqi Freedom 74 M39A1 were fired at Iraqi targets.[12][3] The remaining M39A1 missiles are being updated to M57E1 missiles.[24][25] The M39A1 and all subsequently introduced ATACMS missiles can be used only with the M270A1 (or variants thereof) and the M142.
  • M48 (ATACMS Quick Reaction Unitary; QRU) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The missile carries the 500 lb WDU-18/B penetrating high-explosive blast fragmentation warhead of the US Navy's Harpoon anti-ship missile. Range: 70–300 km (43–186 mi). 176 M48 were produced between 2001 and 2004, when production ceased in favor of the M57. During Operation Iraqi Freedom 16 M48 were fired at Iraqi targets; a further 42 M48 were fired during Operation Enduring Freedom.[12][3] The remaining M48 missiles remain in the U.S. Army and US Marine Corps' arsenal.
  • M57 (ATACMS TACMS 2000) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The missile carries the same WDU-18/B warhead as the M48. Range: 70–300 km (43–186 mi). 513 M57 were produced between 2004 and 2013.[12][3]
  • M57E1 (ATACMS Modification; MOD) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The M57E1 is the designation for upgraded M39 and M39A1 with re-grained motor, updated navigation and guidance software and hardware, and a WDU-18/B unitary warhead instead of the M74 APAM bomblets. The M57E1 ATACMS MOD also includes a proximity sensor for airburst detonation.[24] Production commenced in 2017 with an initial order for 220 upgraded M57E1.[12][3] The program is slated to end in 2024 with the introduction of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which will replace the ATACMS missiles in the US arsenal.

PrSM

Main article: Precision Strike Missile

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a new series of GPS-guided missiles, which will begin to replace ATACMS missiles in 2024. PrSM carries a newly designed area-effects warhead and has a range of 60–499 km (37–310 mi). PrSM missiles can be launched from the M270A2 and the M142, with rockets pods containing 2 missiles. As of 2022 the PrSM is in low-rate initial production with 110 missiles being delivered to the US military over the year. PrSM will enter operational service in 2023.[26][12][27]

Turkish reverse engineered variants

Turkey, in order to obtain M26 supplies without the agreement of the U.S. and because the U.S. was reluctant to share technologies, started reverse-engineering M26 rockets under the SAGE 227 project in order to have its own supply of rockets.[citation needed] During the SAGE-227 project A/B/C/D medium-range composite-fuel artillery rocket and SAGE-227 F experimental guided rocket were developed.

  •  Turkey PARS SAGE-227 F (Turkey): Experimental Guided MLRS (GMLRS) developed by TUBITAK-SAGE to replace the M26 rockets.

Israeli rockets

Israel developed its own rockets to be used in the "Menatetz", an upgraded version of the M270 MLRS. The rockets are developed and manufactured by IMI Systems.[citation needed]

  • Trajectory Corrected Rocket (TCS/RAMAM): In-flight trajectory corrected for enhanced accuracy.
  • Romach: GPS-guided rocket with 35 km (22 mi) range, 20 kg (44 lb) warhead, and accuracy of less than 10 meters.[28]
  • Ra'am Eithan ("Strong Thunder"): an improved version of the TCS/RAMAM (in-flight trajectory corrected for enhanced accuracy) with significantly decreased percentage of duds.

Alternative Warhead Program

In April 2012, Lockheed Martin received a $79.4 million contract to develop a GMLRS incorporating an Alliant Techsystems-designed alternative warhead to replace DPICM cluster warheads. The AW version is designed as a drop-in replacement with little modification needed to existing rockets. An Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program was to last 36 months, with the alternative warhead GMLRS expected to enter service in late 2016.[29] The AW warhead is a large airburst fragmentation warhead that explodes 30 ft (9.1 m) over a target area to disperse penetrating projectiles. Considerable damage is caused to a large area while leaving behind only solid metal penetrators and inert rocket fragments[30] from a 90 kilograms (200 lb) warhead containing approximately 182,000 preformed tungsten fragments.[31] The unitary GMLRS also has an airburst option, but while it produces a large blast and pieces of shrapnel, the AW round's small pellets cover a larger area.[32]

On 22 May 2013, Lockheed and ATK test fired a GMLRS rocket with a new cluster munition warhead developed under the Alternative Warhead Program (AWP), aimed at producing a drop-in replacement for DPICM bomblets in M30 guided rockets. It was fired by an M142 HIMARS and traveled 35 km (22 mi) before detonating. The AWP warhead will have equal or greater effect against materiel and personnel targets, while leaving no unexploded ordnance behind.[33]

On 23 October 2013, Lockheed conducted the third and final engineering development test flight of the GMLRS alternative warhead. Three rockets were fired from 17 kilometers (11 mi) away and destroyed their ground targets. The Alternative Warhead Program then moved to production qualification testing.[34] The fifth and final Production Qualification Test (PQT) for the AW GMLRS was conducted in April 2014, firing four rockets from a HIMARS at targets 65 kilometers (40 mi) away.[35]

On 28 July 2014, Lockheed successfully completed all Developmental Test/Operational Test (DT/OT) flight tests for the AW GMLRS. They were the first tests conducted with soldiers operating the fire control system, firing rockets at mid and long-range from a HIMARS. The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) exercise was to be conducted in fall 2014.[36]

On 15 September 2015, Lockheed received a contract for Lot 10 production of the GMLRS unitary rocket, which includes the first order for AW production.[37]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Agans Jr., Colonel Robert C. (April 2013). "SWORDS & PLOWSHARES: MODIFICATIONS TO THE MLRS FAMILY OF MUNITIONS" (Report). Defense Technical Information Center. United States Department of Defense. p. 26. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270)". Lockheed Martin. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Colonel Joe Russo, CO 14 Marines (May 2018). "Long-Range Precision Fires" (PDF). Marine Corps Gazette: 40. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "United States Cluster Munition Ban Policy". Landmine and Cluster Munitions Monitor. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Weapon System Handbook" (PDF). Program Executive Office Missiles and Space. pp. 105–106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Burdell, Clester. "ANMC opens new rocket recycling facility". US Army. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  7. ↑ D'Ambrosio, Palma. "Destroying Cluster Munitions Stockpiles: the Italian Experience" (PDF). Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Small Arms Survey 2013" (PDF). p. 195. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "Letzte Streubomben der Bundeswehr vernichtet". Bundeswehr Journal. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "Streubomben der Bundeswehr werden in der Uckermark zerstört". Lausitzer Rundschau. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Weapon System Handbook" (PDF). Program Executive Office Missiles and Space. pp. 107–108. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 Engineering Director & Chief Engineer, Paul E. Turner. "Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems" (PDF). US Army Precision Fires Rocket & Missile Systems Project Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Lindstrom, Kinsey. "Army celebrates production of 50,000th GMLRS rocket and its continued evolution". Program Executive Office Missiles and Space. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "FY 2015 Annual Report: Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System – Alternate Warhead (GMLRS-AW) M30E1" (PDF). The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. January 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  15. ↑ "The new M30A1 GMLRS Alternate Warhead to replace cluster bombs for US Army Central 71601171". armyrecognition.com. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System/Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Alternative Warhead (GMLRS/GMLRS AW)" (PDF). Defense Acquisition Management Information Retrieval. p. 7. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "GMLRS Unitary Warhead". General Dynamics. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "Weapon System Handbook" (PDF). Program Executive Office Missiles and Space. pp. 111–112. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Army Building 1,000-Mile Supergun. Archived 2018-10-15 at the Wayback Machine. Breaking Defense. 11 October 2018.
  20. ↑ Judson, Jen (13 October 2020). "Army, Lockheed prep for first extended-range guided rocket test firing". Defense News. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "Mission Success: Lockheed Martin's Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Soars In Flight Test". Lockheed Martin. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Judson, Jen (30 March 2021). "Lockheed scores $1.1B contract to build US Army's guided rocket on heels of extended-range test". Defense News.
  23. ↑ "Finland becomes first extended range GMLRS rocket customer". Defense Brief. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Modification (MOD)" (PDF). The Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Keller, John. "Lockheed Martin to upgrade weapons payloads and navigation and guidance on ATACMS battlefield munitions". Military+Aerospace Electronics. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  26. ↑ "Precision-Guided Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. p. 22. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)". Lockheed Martin. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  28. ↑ "Israel's new guided missiles system Romah will soon be operational". Archived 2016-01-17 at the Wayback Machine. Army Recognition, 15 January 2016
  29. ↑ GMLRS to Get a New Warhead Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine - Defense-Update.com, 24 April 2012
  30. ↑ Army tests safer warhead Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine - Armytechnology.Armylive.DoDlive.mil, 2 September 2014
  31. ↑ Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (GMLRS-AW) M30A1 Archived 2017-09-11 at the Wayback Machine - Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation. 2015
  32. ↑ The new M30A1 GMLRS Alternate Warhead to replace cluster bombs for US Army Central. Army Recognition. 16 January 2017.
  33. ↑ "US Army searches for cluster munitions alternatives". Dmilt.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2013-10-23. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  34. ↑ Alternative GMLRS Warhead Completes Third Successful Fight Test Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine - Deagel.com, 23 October 2013
  35. ↑ Lockheed Martin GMLRS Alternative Warhead Logs Successful Flight-Test Series, Shifts To Next Testing Phase Archived 2014-04-19 at the Wayback Machine - Lockheed news release, 16 April 2014
  36. ↑ Lockheed Martin Completes Successful Operational Flight Tests of GMLRS Alternative Warhead Archived 2014-07-29 at the Wayback Machine - Deagel.com, 28 July 2014
  37. ↑ Lockheed Martin GMLRS Alternative Warhead Gets First Order Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine - Marketwatch.com, 15 September 2015


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