GMARS is a next-generation rocket artillery system developed for Europe and offers double the firepower of HIMARS.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
The U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, is proving to be one of
0:06
the best modern artillery systems. Ukrainians love it so much, they made a folk song about it
0:12
And other U.S. allies are lining up to buy the thing, because besides being highly mobile
0:18
it's also highly versatile, able to fire several different types of munitions
0:23
So HIMARS enthusiasts should be happy to hear the system just got swole
0:30
This is the European Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System, or GMARS, and it just proved its capability with the first successful test fire at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico
0:45
The GMARS is the product of a partnership between U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, maker of the HIMARS system, and Germany's Rheinmetall, which is providing its expertise in large, militarized trucks for the project
0:59
Let's start with the business end of the system, the launcher itself
1:03
It's based on the same basic principles of the HIMARS pod launch system, but it's twice as big
1:09
That means a single GMARS can fire either two ATACAMS missiles, four of the US Army's new precision strike missiles, or 12 227mm guided rockets
1:22
But wait, there's more. Since many European rocket launchers use 122mm rockets, the GMARS will eventually be able to fire those as well
1:33
Here's something else that's pretty interesting. Lockheed Martin says it working on a ground version of its long anti missile the L And Lockheed wants to be able to fire it from the HIMARS
1:45
The L-RASM is shaping up to be an amazing missile. Stealthy, long-range, able to operate in swarms in denied environments
1:53
truly a monster in the form of a munition. At the same time, Ryan Mattal says future GMARS munitions options include a surface-launched cruise missile
2:04
So while neither company is openly saying the GMARS will eventually fire the L-Rasm
2:10
if the HIMARS can do it, the GMARS can do it too. Neither system would be what it is, though, without the ability to move
2:18
To accomplish that critical task, the GMARS is based on Reinmattal's HX Vehicle Series
2:24
Reinmattal is Europe's number one manufacturer of wheeled and tracked tactical vehicles
2:30
and they brought all of that experience to bear in the design of the GMARS
2:34
It has an automated load handling system, armored cab, and what's being called a future-proof electronic architecture that enables things like autonomous operations
2:45
And for as big as it is, the 8x8 GMARS is still pretty mobile, making shoot and scoot operations more than manageable
2:55
The GMARS vehicle came together and proved capable pretty quickly. Lockheed Martin and Ryan Mattel only announced their partnership in 2023
3:04
which was, of course, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was the impetus for the greatest surge in European defensive spending in decades
3:14
For more reporting like this, download the Straight-O News app today
#news
#Technology News
#World News
#Aerospace & Defense


