Page 23 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec-Jan 2023

DECEMBER 2022-JANUARY 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
DEFENCE BUSINESS HIMARS 23
though the HIMARS system has a normal crew of three, it can be reloaded by one person. The number of missiles per pod varies depending on what munition is loaded, rang- ing from just one large (ATACMS) missile to six GMLRS munitions.
“Its contribution to the joint force has really been un- matched,” explained Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS Inter- national Business Director, Tom Stanton.
“We can put HIMARS on a C-130, land it on unim- proved runways, deplane and fire its munitions, get back on board and take off again all within minutes.”
It is this ‘shoot and scoot’ capability that has proven HIMARS so effective in Ukraine. The system is able to
launch all its munitions within 30 seconds and then relo- cate at relatively high speed to avoid counter battery fire. This tactic appears to have been used widely by Ukrainian forces and there have been no public reports of losses to Russian strikes, despite heavy use.
Fire control is accomplished via a universal fire con- trol system, capable of receiving variable message format C4ISR data, but Lockheed Martin will migrate to a Com- mon Fire Control System (CFCS) in the near future.
ABOVE: HIMARS can fire a salvo of six GMLRS munitions within 30 seconds
US ARMY