HIMARS MLRS and the rearmament of Polish rocket artillery
The first batch of M142 HIMARS vehicles arrived in Poland in May 2023.
The missile forces and artillery of the Polish armed forces have limited numbers and cannot boast of new equipment, which negatively affects their combat effectiveness. In this regard, several years ago it was decided to carry out a major rearmament. Over the next years, it is planned to purchase and field hundreds of new multiple launch rocket systems. The American HIMARS system occupies a special place in these plans.
Objective needs
During the existence of the Warsaw Pact, the Polish army was able to build fairly large and well-equipped ground forces for that time. This type of troops was armed with several types of Soviet and foreign-made systems, both MLRS and tactical missile systems.
However, after the collapse of the Department of Internal Affairs and a change in the political course, the condition of the army began to deteriorate. The lack of necessary funding and objective obsolescence processes have led to a reduction in the number of rocket artillery. In addition, in the mid-2022s, the RV&A were left without a fuel dispenser. In XNUMX, the Polish authorities decided to help the Kyiv regime and give it their military equipment, which again hit the state of their own army fleet
According to the reference book The Military Balance 2023, at the beginning of last year, Polish missile forces had less than 180 multiple launch rocket systems. The most numerous were the old Soviet BM-21 and the newer locally produced WR-40 Langusta - 75 units each. There were also up to 30 Czechoslovak RM-70s. Tactical missiles have been missing for a long time.
American technology
In the mid-56s, the Polish Ministry of Defense launched the DMO WWR program (Dywizjonowego modułu ogniowego wieloprowadnicowych wyrzutni rakietowych - “Divisional MLRS module”), the purpose of which was to search for a new multiple launch rocket system for rearmament of missile defense forces. The army planned to select the most successful model and order three divisions of such equipment - XNUMX launchers, as well as missiles for them and other equipment. New orders were expected in the future.
HIMARS (left) and Homar-A (right) at the signing ceremony of the Polish-American agreement, September 2023
In mid-2017, as part of the new program, they decided to purchase American M142 HIMARS MLRS, and almost immediately the negotiation process began on future contracts. According to initial plans, Poland wanted to receive documentation and technology from the United States to launch the production of HIMARS combat vehicles at its own enterprises. This MLRS was to be called Homar (“Lobster”). Ammunition for licensed combat vehicles was going to be received from the United States.
At the end of 2017, the Pentagon asked the US Congress for permission for such cooperation. However, this document was not needed. Already in mid-2018, Poland abandoned its own proposal for licensed production due to the insufficient level of development of its industry. Following these events, a new stage of negotiations began, during which they discussed the simple sale of finished equipment.
In February 2019, Poland and the United States entered into a long-awaited supply agreement. Under its terms, Lockheed Martin was to manufacture and transfer to the Polish army a divisional set of the HIMARS system consisting of 18 combat vehicles. The agreement also included 2 training MLRS, GMLRS missiles, ATACMS tactical missiles and other property or services. The total contract value was US$414 million. Deliveries were supposed to begin only in 2023.
In accordance with the established schedule, on May 15, 2023, the first batch of equipment of five combat vehicles was delivered to Poland. Over the next few months, the American side shipped the remaining 15 launchers, several dozen transport and launch containers with missiles of various types and other equipment. In addition, by the time deliveries began, Polish crews had completed the necessary training in the United States.
Co-production
Despite signing a contract for the supply of ready-made Highmars, the Polish Ministry of Defense did not abandon the idea of producing such equipment on its own. For this purpose, the Homar-A program was launched, in which it was planned to invite US industry. Negotiations on this topic ended in success, and on September 11, 2023, the countries signed a framework agreement.
Two MLRS with standardized launchers
The Homar-A project provides for some modification of the existing M142 MLRS, taking into account the requirements of the Polish army. Thus, the Homar-A combat vehicle (A is American) should be built on a Polish-made Jelcz 663.45 triaxial chassis and carry a standard HIMARS launcher. The standard fire control system will be combined with the Polish-made TOPAZ integrated combat control system. The standard line of GMLRS ammunition will remain.
In accordance with the September agreement, the American side will have to provide the necessary technologies, as well as manufacture and send 486 launchers for HIMARS without a chassis to Poland. Polish industry will install them on its own vehicles and combine them with the Topaz control system. The missiles will initially be supplied from the United States, but in the future the Polish side wants to establish their licensed production.
By the time the agreement was signed, one sample of the Homar-A MLRS had been assembled in Poland. In the near future, the USA and Poland should organize a full-fledged series. They will clarify the terms of cooperation, issue orders to contractors and organize cooperation. It is expected that the launch of production will take minimal time. The first batch of ready-made Homar-A MLRS will be delivered to the customer in 2025. It is not reported how long the assembly of the 486 desired combat vehicles will take.
Eastern direction of cooperation
It is curious that in the development of military and air forces, the Polish leadership turns to not only the United States for help. Thus, in October 2022 - against the backdrop of negotiations on the Highmars - Poland signed a framework agreement with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace. The topic of the document was the joint production of its K239 Chunmoo MLRS.
Agreement worth approx. 6 billion US dollars provides for the production of 288 combat vehicles with a distinctive appearance. They were planned to be built on an eight-wheeled Jelcz chassis, equipped with a Korean launcher and missiles, and equipped with a TOPAZ control system. This MLRS was called Homar-K.
The first sample of the Homar-A MLRS on the Jelcz chassis
Under the terms of the agreement, Polish contractors were to assemble the first batch of 18 combat vehicles in 2023. The first three MLRS were handed over to the customer in November. The remaining 15 units. at that time they were at different stages of assembly, and their transfer on time was not possible. However, the lag was not critical.
According to the agreement, a certain number of MLRS "Homar-K" (K - Korean) will be built with the participation of enterprises from the two countries. At the same time, in Poland they want to completely localize the assembly of combat vehicles. Then they are going to set up production of Korean-designed missiles. However, the exact timing of the launch of such production and the execution time of all orders have not yet been announced.
Desired Results
In essence, Poland is rebuilding its missile forces and artillery. The existing fleet of rocket artillery has not satisfied the army in quantitative and qualitative terms for a long time, and recent deliveries of equipment to Ukraine have further worsened its condition. To restore this type of troops and obtain the desired capabilities, it is now necessary to launch a large and expensive rearmament program.
According to current plans and signed agreements, by the end of the current decade or later, the Polish ground forces will receive several hundred multiple launch rocket systems of several main types. We are talking about foreign-developed equipment, although they want to assemble most of it at Polish enterprises.
The main complex of Polish missile and military forces in the future will be the American M142 HIMARS or its localized version Homar-A - a total of 504 units. Last year, Poland received the first divisional set of 18 “Hymars”, and with the help of “Homars” ordered in September they will equip another 27 divisions.
MLRS K239 South Korean ground forces
It is assumed that the M142/Homar-A will be able to use the entire available line of ammunition. When operating as a multiple launch rocket system or tactical missile system, they will use GMLRS missiles with a range of approx. 90 km or promising ER GMLRS flying at 150 km. Future deliveries of ATACMS family of tactical missiles are also reported. Depending on the modification, such products have a range of up to 300 km.
The production and delivery of 288 Homak-K/K239 combat vehicles is also planned. This amount of equipment is enough for 16 standard divisions. It is assumed that the South Korean-developed modular MLRS will also be able to use different types of ammunition. These will be 122-mm projectiles based on Grad missiles, 239-mm Korean-developed CGR080 products with a range of 80 km, as well as CTM290 tactical missiles with a range of 290 km.
Thus, in the coming years, the Polish Ministry of Defense plans to purchase almost 800 multiple launch rocket systems with a total cost of at least 12-15 billion US dollars. Thanks to this equipment, it will be possible to equip 44 rocket artillery divisions, significantly improving the quantitative indicators of missile defense and warfare. At the same time, without compromising combat effectiveness, it will be possible to remove old products BM-21, RM-70, etc. from service.
It should be noted that this is not only about increasing the size and reducing the average age of the MLRS fleet. Two versions of Homar and HIMARS will seriously improve the combat capabilities of rocket artillery. Depending on the task, any combat vehicle of such a fleet will be able to perform the functions of a traditional MLRS, incl. extended range, or operational-tactical missile system.
The launched program for the rearmament of missile forces and artillery is of great importance for the Polish armed forces. Its full or even partial implementation will significantly improve the army’s strike capabilities and its general condition. However, the program looks quite complex, has a record cost, and also requires the active participation of Polish industry. It is not yet possible to say with confidence that Poland will cope with these tasks and get all the desired results.
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