Urgent, $1.13-Billion Order for Missile Launchers

The Pentagon issued a $1.13-billion contract to Lockheed Martin for M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems launchers and supporting requirements, to address “urgent needs” for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, along with foreign military sales customers in Australia, Canada, Estonia, Sweden, and Taiwan.

The award authorizes full-rate production of Lot 17 of the HiMARS program, however it’s described as an “undefinitized” contract, a term indicating that the price quoted is not to be exceeded by the contractor, and that the government will allow work to begin before terms, specifications, or price are finalized.

The M142 HiMARS system involves a lightweight, multiple rocket launcher mounted on a 6x6 wheeled truck. Each launcher holds six GPS-guided rockets (with a range of up to 80 km) or one ATACMS missile (up to 300 km range.)

HIMARS launchers are capable of delivering a range of ballistic weapons: Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, the next-generation Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), and Extended-Range GMLRS rockets.

The contract announcement does not describe the basis for the urgency, but HiMARS systems have emerged as critical tactical technology for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, performing long-range precision strikes against superior artillery capacity.

The systems reportedly have a long service life, though the U.S. has committed more than 40 of the HiMARS launchers to Ukraine since 2022.

Lockheed was assigned a contract completion date of April 30, 2028. Army Contracting Command, Aviation Logistics, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-24-D-0019; W31P4Q-26-F-0036).