Rocket artillery has gotten complicated with all the different systems and munitions flying around battlefield discussions—literally. As someone who’s spent years following these weapons and their employment from Desert Storm to Ukraine, I learned everything there is to know about MLRS and HIMARS. Today, I will share it all with you.
Rocket artillery has revolutionized battlefield fires, combining devastating firepower with precision guidance to strike targets that tube artillery simply cannot reach. The Multiple Launch Rocket System and its lighter cousin HIMARS have proven their worth in every major conflict since the 1990s, establishing themselves as absolutely essential battlefield systems that nobody wants to face.
MLRS Origins
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System entered service in 1983, designed specifically to counter massive Soviet armored formations that NATO expected to face in Europe. Each launcher carries twelve 227mm rockets that can saturate a grid square with submunitions in under a minute—that’s a lot of very bad things arriving very quickly. The psychological and physical impact of an MLRS volley earned it the nickname “Grid Square Removal System,” and that reputation was well-deserved.
Built on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle chassis, the M270 combines self-propelled mobility with armor protection for the two-person crew. They can fire a full load and displace before counter-battery fire arrives at their firing position—critical for survival on a modern battlefield. Reload takes about five minutes with the integral crane system, and then they’re ready to do it again.
Guided Missiles Transform Capability
While early MLRS rockets were area weapons meant to saturate targets, the Army Tactical Missile System—ATACMS—added true precision strike capability that changed everything. ATACMS missiles reach targets over 180 miles away with GPS-guided accuracy. A single missile can destroy hardened targets that would require dozens of unguided rockets to even have a chance at hitting.
The Guided MLRS rocket provides intermediate capability—70+ mile range with precision accuracy. That’s what makes GMLRS so valuable in current operations. It has become the preferred munition for time-sensitive targets, combining responsiveness with low collateral damage that matters in populated areas. When commanders need something dead right now, they call for GMLRS.
HIMARS: Lighter and More Deployable
The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System mounts a single launch pod on a medium truck chassis rather than the heavy tracked platform. This reduces weight to 16,000 pounds—light enough for C-130 transport compared to the 27-ton M270 that requires C-5 or ship transport to get anywhere quickly.
HIMARS carries six GMLRS rockets or one ATACMS missile, half the M270’s capacity but with dramatically improved deployability. For expeditionary operations and rapid global response, HIMARS provides rocket artillery capability that simply cannot be matched by heavier systems. When you need fires somewhere fast, HIMARS is often the only option that can actually get there.
Combat Proven
Desert Storm demonstrated MLRS effectiveness against Iraqi formations in ways that shocked observers. MLRS fire disrupted artillery positions, broke up attacks before they could develop, and demoralized defending units who had no defense against it. Iraqi prisoners described the sheer terror of rocket barrages they could neither escape nor counter—it was a game-changer.
Ukraine has used HIMARS to devastating effect against Russian ammunition depots, command posts, and logistics nodes throughout the current conflict. The system’s precision and range allow strikes deep in Russian-held territory, disrupting operations far from the front lines in ways that have materially affected the course of the war. HIMARS has become the most famous weapon system of the conflict for good reason.
Future Developments
The Precision Strike Missile will extend range beyond 300 miles while fitting two missiles per pod—double the ATACMS capacity. Long-range hypersonic weapons will provide even greater reach against time-sensitive targets. As peer adversaries invest heavily in air defense, ground-launched missiles provide assured strike capability that cannot be interdicted the way aircraft can be shot down. The future of deep strike is increasingly on the ground.
