MLRS and HIMARS: The Rocket Artillery Changing Warfare

Rocket artillery has revolutionized battlefield fires, combining devastating firepower with precision guidance to strike targets that tube artillery cannot reach. The Multiple Launch Rocket System and its lighter cousin HIMARS have proven their worth from Desert Storm to Ukraine, establishing themselves as essential battlefield systems.

MLRS Origins

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System entered service in 1983, designed to counter massive Soviet armored formations in Europe. Each launcher carries twelve 227mm rockets that can saturate a grid square with submunitions in under a minute. The psychological and physical impact of an MLRS volley earned it the nickname “Grid Square Removal System.”

Built on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle chassis, the M270 combines self-propelled mobility with armor protection. The two-person crew can fire a full load and displace before counter-battery fire arrives. Reload takes about five minutes with the integral crane system.

Guided Missiles Transform Capability

While early MLRS rockets were area weapons, the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) added precision strike capability. 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.

The Guided MLRS (GMLRS) rocket provides intermediate capability—70+ mile range with precision accuracy. GMLRS has become the preferred munition for time-sensitive targets, combining responsiveness with low collateral damage.

HIMARS: Lighter and More Deployable

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System mounts a single launch pod on a medium truck chassis. This reduces weight to 16,000 pounds—light enough for C-130 transport compared to the 27-ton M270 requiring C-5 or ship transport.

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.

Combat Proven

Desert Storm demonstrated MLRS effectiveness against Iraqi formations. MLRS fire disrupted artillery positions, broke up attacks, and demoralized defending units. Iraqi prisoners described the terror of rocket barrages they could not escape.

Ukraine has used HIMARS to devastating effect against Russian ammunition depots, command posts, and logistics nodes. The system’s precision and range allow strikes deep in Russian-held territory, disrupting operations far from the front lines.

Future Developments

The Precision Strike Missile will extend range beyond 300 miles while fitting two missiles per pod. Long-range hypersonic weapons will provide even greater reach. As peer adversaries invest in air defense, ground-launched missiles provide assured strike capability that cannot be interdicted.