Project multiple launch rocket system GMARS from Lockheed Martin / Rheinmetall

Design appearance of the MLRS GMARS

The German ground forces are planning to renew their rocket artillery fleet in the medium term. They will write off the existing MLRS MARS II (the German version of the American M270 MLRS) and adopt a new model of the same class. Lockheed Martin (USA) and Rheinmetall (Germany) are interested in such the news and began developing a promising multiple launch rocket system called GMARS.

Park renewal

According to known data, the Bundeswehr has a limited fleet of rocket artillery. Until recently, there were approx. 40 MARS II combat vehicles. Last year, Germany handed over several such systems to Ukraine, as a result of which its own fleet was reduced to 34 units. In addition, over a hundred original American M270s are in storage, but their return to service is impossible for a number of reasons.

This state of the park does not suit the army, and it is required to take action as soon as possible. It is necessary to find and purchase new MLRS with sufficient characteristics. The first batch of such equipment will have to make up for last year's losses from helping the Kyiv regime. Then the process of full-fledged rearmament will begin, possibly with an increase in the total number.

Currently, the Bundeswehr is studying the available opportunities, and is also awaiting proposals from development companies. The desired number of new MLRS has not yet been specified. The exact timing of rearmament cannot be named either, but it must be carried out over the next few years.

Joint development

On June 23, the American edition of Defense News published a long interview with Lockheed Martin Vice President Howard Bromberg. He said that the corporation wants to participate in the rearmament program of the Bundeswehr and has already taken the necessary measures for this.

MARS II multiple launch rocket system

It is reported that back in April, Lockheed Martin and the German Rheinmetall group of companies signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with the aim of developing a promising MLRS for the German army. At the moment, this project has the working title GMARS - German Mittleres Artillerieraketensystem.

To date, the two companies have studied the requirements of the customer, and also formed the overall look of the future system. In addition, they prepared and showed an image of such a combat vehicle. The development of the project is ongoing, and in the foreseeable future it will have to be evaluated by the customer. The first consultations with him have already passed.

Due to the relative simplicity of the project, it is planned to reduce the development and pre-production time. So, with the soonest receipt of the contract, contractors will be able to prepare the first components for the assembly of finished machines within a few months. The first batch of five MLRS will be able to assemble and transfer to the Bundeswehr as early as 2025. Further production for the complete re-equipment of the park will take several more years.

The issue of the supply of ammunition is also being resolved. Now the GMARS developers are negotiating with the German company Diehl Defense, which in the future could master the production of GMLRS missiles. Until such production has begun, the German army will have to use the accumulated stocks of shells, mainly of American production.

From ready-made components

Taking into account the requirements of the customer, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall formed the overall look of the promising GMARS complex. To speed up and simplify development and production, this MLRS was made with extensive use of off-the-shelf and available components. Some of them have been slightly modified; the number of new nodes is minimal.

They want to get increased mobility and improved performance through a new wheeled chassis. It is proposed to use a serial truck Rheinmetall-MAN (RMMV) HX 8x8. Such a chassis is equipped with a 440 hp diesel engine. and has a transmission with torque distribution to all wheels.

The four-axle RMMV HX chassis features high payload capacity and the ability to tow heavy loads. These characteristics are fully consistent with the applied combat equipment and loads during firing.

In the rear of the GMARS chassis, it is proposed to place a turntable with a launcher for rockets. This device is borrowed from the serial M270 with minimal changes. Thanks to this, the new MLRS is capable of transporting and using two unified transport and launch containers with the required type of ammunition at once. Also, the installation retains a regular crane for self-loading of TPK.

GMARS will reportedly retain compatibility with MARS II cash rockets. Currently, the ammunition of the German MLRS includes shells of the GMLRS family, equipped with monoblock warheads. In addition, rockets with self-aiming submunitions and mines were developed in Germany.

Ammunition expansion, apparently, is not planned. American MLRS are capable of using ATACMS tactical missiles, but the Bundeswehr does not have them and does not plan to purchase them. The same probably applies to promising PrSM. Most likely, the German GMARS will remain exclusively multiple launch rocket systems without advanced strike capabilities.

The German MLRS MARS II are equipped with the European Fire Control System (EFCS) fire control system, which differs from the standard FCS for the M270. What system the new GMARS complex will receive has not yet been reported. Perhaps they will keep the old EFCS or develop an improved version of it with improved performance and accuracy.

The new combat vehicle, as in the case of its counterparts, will be controlled by a crew of three, located in a single cabin. Preparation for firing and launches will be carried out by remote control, without the need to go outside.

Project Perspectives

Promising MLRS GMARS in the proposed form is of particular interest to potential customers. It is easy to see that it has certain advantages over the existing M270 or M142 systems and is quite capable of taking a place in parts of the customer - the Bundeswehr or another army.

So, from the M270 / MARS II, the GMARS product compares favorably with the use of a wheeled chassis. Due to this, it will be possible to increase mobility - and thereby fulfill one of the main requirements of the German army. At the same time, unlike the American M142, the proposed system carries two TPKs with missiles and has the maximum possible ammunition load.

MLRS GMARS is actually assembled only from available components and must use a serial family of ammunition. This will greatly simplify the production, development and operation of such equipment. At the same time, maximum unification with the available rocket artillery and vehicle fleet is achieved.

MARS II firing

However, the GMARS project has ambiguous features and even disadvantages. So, despite the novelty, this MLRS is actually a modernization of an existing model. The transfer of the finished launcher, the FCS and the existing shells to the new chassis will not change the combat characteristics of the complex in any way. The GMARS product is created with a reserve for the distant future, and therefore the lack of serious advantages over the current model can be considered a disadvantage.

It should be noted that the new system needs not only to interest the Bundeswehr, but also to bypass the competitor. The German company KMW and the Israeli Elbit Systems intend to offer the German Ministry of Defense a MLRS jointly developed by Euro-PULS. It is based on the Israeli product PULS and has a number of interesting features.

Which of the proposed samples will be put into service and replace the cash MLRS MARS II is unknown. It can be assumed that the GMARS project has more chances. The widespread use of ready-made German-made components and the possibility of using the accumulated stocks of missiles will help him win.

On the eve of rearmament

Thus, the current state of rocket artillery ceased to suit the leadership of Germany, as a result of which it was decided to make up for last year's losses, and then to fully re-equip. In the foreseeable future, the Bundeswehr wants to receive a new type of MLRS, which are not inferior in their characteristics to the remaining MARS II.

The German industry, in cooperation with foreign colleagues, has already responded to such requests. Leading enterprises proposed two projects of new missile systems with certain features. Which of these samples will suit the customer and enter service will become known in the next year or two.

Comments

[Aaron Zawi]

The rearmament of Europe will be delayed until at least 2030.

[Couchexpert]

Rearmament cannot be completed, it can only be temporarily suspended for economic, political or other reasons.

[Sulla__Glorious]

Why is there no Russian reaction to the arms supplied to Ukraine?! So, for example, from: the Czech Republic, Slovakia and others. They are given strict notes, with a warning that they are DIRECTLY participating in military battles against the Russian Federation with military supplies, with all further consequences, and without a statute of limitations. It is necessary to react: adequately, promptly and STRICTLY; until the end of the dip. relations and the expulsion of the diplomatic corps. Zero response today. Well, that's how everyone supplies weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine - without hesitation. The Russian Foreign Ministry and other services are generally toothless. And it cannot be otherwise, when the offspring of the leadership and chief officials are "hostages" of the enemies.

[Negro]

Quote: Sulla__Glorious

Why is there no Russian reaction to the arms supplied to Ukraine?!

In terms of? You have been talking about red lines every day for a year and a half already.

Quote: Sulla__Glorious

It is necessary to react: adequately, promptly and STRICTLY; until the end of the dip. relations and the expulsion of the diplomatic corps.

And to whom, excuse me, did your diplomatic corps surrender? And if they don't let him back, what then?

Quote: Sulla__Glorious

they DIRECTLY participate in military battles against the Russian Federation, with all further consequences, and without a statute of limitations.

And if they draw the red line Arkhangelsk-Astrakhan for you, what will you do?

[bk0010]

Quote: Sulla__Glorious

It is necessary to react: adequately, promptly and STRICTLY; until the end of the dip. relations and the expulsion of the diplomatic corps.

This is not strict, and they themselves will soon kick out our embassies. Strictly - these are strikes on the political and industrial centers of the accomplice countries, but ours will be afraid of a war with NATO.

[Nikolaevich I]

Shaw again?! Indeed, at the end of the last century and the beginning of this century, Europe made an attempt to get rid of the American M270 / M142 and acquire "independent" installations!
This is the British MLRS LIMAWS ... You can give some data on this system ...
In the UK, in the early 1990s, in accordance with the program "High-precision target engagement from closed firing positions", Insis developed the LIMAWS (R) multiple launch rocket system.
Compared to the American system M142 "Himars", the British should have had a number of significant differences, the main ones being:
- the use of only controlled 227-mm PCs with trajectory correction according to the Navstar CRNS data (in the short term, American-made, later - nationally developed, equipped with an infrared and active radar homing head with a maximum firing range of 100-120 km);
- the absence of a rotary mechanism in the composition of the artillery unit;
- wider use of components and assemblies made of composite materials. Thanks to this, it is expected that the combat weight of the system will be reduced by almost 5 tons.

The introduction of such technical solutions is determined by stringent requirements to limit the combat weight of the MLRS in order to ensure its transfer in combat readiness by Chinook CH-47 helicopters on external hardpoints and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft

[cold wind]

We decided to repeat the South Korean K239 Chunmoo. These machines for the European theater of operations have a number of undeniable advantages.

[Bingo]

On the same rake. It must be assumed that, in principle, NATO will not have MLRS - the project of "high-precision" systems does not involve VOLVO fire, which means that the ground forces will be catastrophically inferior in terms of firepower.
Well, we're better off

[DoctorRandom]

Whether it's a matter of hundreds of Gradov and other installations that hit the area. By the way, can you show how exactly they showed themselves in modern warfare? Maybe then I’ll find out why the RF Armed Forces have not been conducting offensive operations for almost a year now.

[DoctorRandom]

Link to the Star, seriously? At the link of the video, how Grad shoots somewhere there, without video recording of hits. A beautiful video for grandparents who watch the Star. No more.

You missed the campaign, but the main task of eliminating the bridgehead at the Antonovsky Bridge was carried out by Iskander, who demolished the bridge support, under which the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were sitting to protect against airborne forces, artillery and MLRS.

Well, by the way. Inadequate is just the one who in the 21st century defends the positions of the ancient MLRS, with which only to plow the fields. Why did even North Korea understand this and move on to the concept of high-precision MLRS? I won't even talk about the NATO countries. Excuse me, but now is not the middle of the 70s, and the war with Ukraine proved this once again.

[Gestas]

You would also demand video recordings from TOS, for each individual militant :). You don’t advocate for the "high-precision" TOS, for an hour? Sometimes massing is also needed, to the detriment of high accuracy (which is not particularly relevant in situations of accumulation of manpower and equipment on the "patch"). It's like "landing" the enemy's chain from a machine gun and a rifle. The rifle is much more accurate, but the machine gun, due to the rate of fire and the ability to cover the "area", is more effective.
"Why did even North Korea understand this and move on to the concept of high-precision MLRS?". Because it is a "trend" of technologies, i.e. popular concept. And what does "even in North Korea" mean? They have their own tasks for their own power, theater of operations. If in Sev. Korea will refuse tanks, will we also refuse? By the way, there are no nuclear submarines in their concept, is it also "even in North Korea they abandoned the concept of using nuclear submarines"?

[Arigin]

The very possibility of inflicting a massive blow with unguided (read - cheap) shells keeps the enemy in suspense, and does not allow him to get impudent with impunity. A persuasive argument, don't you think? However, these cheap shells themselves must be modernized in time, first of all, a simple correction system should be introduced.

[NickShel]

Clicked like nuts, even before the start of production? Kozhegutych, relogin. Don't be embarrassed, by God!

[Red Hunter]

Maybe Russia should take a closer look at the Polonaise MLRS? According to its characteristics, it is in no way inferior to the overseas HIMARS and significantly outperforms the Tornado-S in terms of firing range and accuracy. A license for the production of Chinese M20 missiles can be bought or an analogue can be developed. Old MLRS with gyroscopic stabilization of missiles are obsolete and have actually reached the limits of their capabilities, so they are gradually being replaced by multi-charged OTRK

[cold wind]

There are Chinese rockets in Polonaise, so we can't see them.

[Red Hunter]

Why ? War has not been officially declared by any of the parties, which means that there can be no ban on the supply of weapons by third parties. After all, Russia sold to China 24 Su-35 fighters, several divisions of the S-400 air defense system, a license for the production of Krasnopol shells and the Smerch MLRS. China can sell not directly, but through Belarus

[puteovii]

In Khimki, accuracy is provided by GPS. Glanas is not reliable enough. And inserting a Chinese analogue is problematic.

[Red Hunter]

The principle of operation of GLONASS and GPS is almost the same, so many satellite signal receivers are able to work with both systems at once. GLONASS accuracy will be worse, but it is quite comparable to GPS

[vadim dok]

Rearmament is a permanent process! It never stops!

[Evgeny Medem]

The first volley fire system in Russia was created by Nartov, a mechanic of Peter the Great. However, it is not systems that are fighting, but people, fighters.

[9PA]

The high power of the projectile, accuracy, range, rate of fire, mobility, modularity ... We could use 100 of these on the basis of a truck. What's the use of yachts now yes hours