Recent developments in missile launchers and guided missiles have been pioneered by the US Department of Defense, which has identified the Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF) program as the highest priority on its list of critical systems. For example, the Fletcher laser-guided missile launcher, which was designed for the most maneuverable platforms, in response to requests from the UK and US Defense Departments, is currently being upgraded to increase firepower - a feature that is becoming increasingly valuable as the military is preparing for war with an almost equal rival.
In Eastern Europe, a lot of attention is also paid to such systems. Poland recently signed a contract for the supply of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) multiple launch rocket systems, BM-21 Berest was developed in Ukraine, and Russian state-owned enterprises received government support for the production of MLRS platforms Tornado-G and Tornado-S that will replace the outdated Soviet systems. However, the demand for smaller mobile missile systems remains in the Middle East and North Africa, reflecting the counterinsurgency and urban nature of the ongoing hostilities of the UAE and other countries in the region.
Tactical launch
The Lockheed Martin M142 HIMARS MLRS continues to be in service with the United States and its allies. The field-proven platform should remain in service with the US military until its decommissioning in 2050. Nevertheless, various types of missiles are under development for this system, from unguided missiles to guided missiles. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are currently vying to develop missiles to be launched from MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) and HIMARS platforms as part of the LRPF precision fire systems program.
The M142 HIMARS wheeled MLRS is a lighter and more mobile alternative to the M270 MLRS platform and therefore is equipped with the rapid reaction forces. The system consists of a rotating launcher mounted on an FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle) 6x6 cross-country chassis. The HIMARS platform typically carries one launch container, which can be loaded with six unguided rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) tactical missile. In addition to the ability to launch ATACMS missiles, the M142 system can fire guided GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) missiles.
To date, more than 400 HIMARS launchers have been delivered to the US Army. The Marine Corps and foreign customers, including Jordan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, also used these systems in hostilities in Afghanistan.
As part of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) missile program to replace ATACMS, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are developing a new system that will have a minimum threshold range of 400 km, compared to the current missile's 300 km. The proposed solutions, so much needed by the US military, should be capable of targeting and destroying or disrupting the operation of enemy denial / blocking systems in order to allow the combined forces freedom of maneuver and action.
Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are developing PRsM and DeepStrike missiles, respectively. Both systems will include two missiles per container and advanced guidance systems. They have a target range of 499 km, which would meet the requirements of the Treaty on Intermediate-Range and Short-Range Missiles (less than 500 km, but at present these figures are no longer relevant for obvious reasons).
Raytheon, working closely with the US Department of Defense, announced last October that it has integrated its launch canister into the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS platforms. Mr. Patterson of the company said that in 2018, "physical, functional and operational characteristics" were verified, as well as the mechanical interface between the container, the rocket and the launcher was tested. Raytheon is currently preparing for test launches at White Sands Proving Grounds, which are scheduled for later this year. Integration with the fire control system, according to Patterson, engineers are "doing right now."
At the same test site this fall, PrSM missiles will also be tested. A Lockheed Martin spokesman added that the company currently intends to test the design of this missile during factory tests.
Distance of defeat
It is clear that the demand for more intelligent missiles with significantly longer ranges is growing. Although at this stage, apparently, no changes in launchers or chassis are foreseen. However, in the future, such developments are not completely ruled out, especially in connection with the withdrawal from the INF Treaty in August 2019, which imposed restrictions on the range of medium and short-range missiles.
Discussing the trade-off between capabilities and weight-dimensional and power-consumption characteristics. Patterson noted: “There are weight and volume limitations of the launcher, which imposes certain restrictions on the size of the payload. It is very important for the army to participate in this.”
Lockheed Martin is also contracting to modernize current ATACMS missiles for the US Army under the Life Extension Program. “We are striving, in fact, to use everything that is currently in this missile in order to increase its range,” explained the development manager of the GMLRS project. “We will move on to a rocket with control tail surfaces, which will be launched from the same launcher, while improving maneuverability. We'll be upsizing a bit and supplying a larger engine.” In addition, Lockheed Martin will take over the production of the FMTV chassis. Although the platform remains structurally the same, the next 100 trucks will be built from scratch by Lockheed.
In addition to new launchers with smarter guided missiles and longer-range unguided missiles, some countries are also looking to stock up on outdated systems. In Europe, many militaries are not abandoning the old Soviet legacy either, indicating that the old Cold War borders are being redrawn for the first time since the collapse of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
After the approval of the Congress in January 2019, the Polish Ministry of Defense announced the purchase of 24 MLRS М142 HIMARS. The 414 million Foreign Military Sales program, known as HOMAR in Poland, was approved in November 2018.
The contract for HIMARS systems also includes the purchase of 36 missiles with a unitary warhead GMLRS M31, 9 alternative warheads GMLRS M30A1, 30 Army Tactical Missile System M57 Unitary tactical missiles, 24 automated fire control systems of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems artillery units, 20 Multiple Launcher training containers Pod Assembly M68A2 and M1151A1 off-road armored vehicles.
The HIMARS purchases are part of the Polish Armed Forces Development Program 2017-2026, which was released in November 2018. In accordance with it, the Polish Ministry of Defense will develop a network of long-range artillery systems with a particular emphasis on regiments deployed on the border with the Kaliningrad region.
“We plan to increase our firepower, especially when it comes to accurately hitting targets at ranges of about 300 km,” said a spokesman for the Polish Ministry of Defense, adding that weapons need to be adapted to the modern battlefield.
The US government announced in September 2018 that it will purchase 24 more HIMARS launchers and related equipment for $ 289 million. The systems should be delivered by 2022.
Dawn in the East
Ukraine has also taken to expanding its artillery capabilities following the end of hostilities in February 2015 against the Russian-backed separatist movement. However, it is clear that to this day the Ukrainian government does not relax, since it is investing heavily in programs to modernize military equipment.
In October 2018, the state-owned enterprise Ukroboronprom announced that it had developed a new 122-mm BM-21UM Berest MLRS, which will replace the Soviet-made 122-mm BM-21 Grad MLRS currently in service with the Ukrainian army.
The new MLRS, installed on the chassis of the KrAZ 4x4 off-road truck, is distinguished by greater firepower, increased accuracy, improved mobility, as well as new digital control and guidance systems, which made it possible to reduce the preparation time for firing. It is capable of firing 50 missiles and can receive accurate enemy positions in real time from a drone, counter-battery radar and other reconnaissance and surveillance systems tied to it.
Similar to FMTV 6x6 chassis. on which the MLRS HIMARS is based, this platform has wide wheels and a tire pressure regulation system for cross-country driving. The car, capable of reaching speeds of over 90 km / h, has two fuel tanks of 165 liters each, allowing a cruising range of up to 600 km.
Ukraine has also begun mass production of a new 300-mm guided missile "Vilkha" to replace the outdated 9K58 "Smerch". The first deliveries are expected to begin mid-2019. There are two variants of the missile weighing 800 kg: the first is equipped with a warhead weighing 250 kg and has a range of 70 kg; and the second is equipped with a 170 kg warhead and has a range of 120 km. Each of the 12 missiles can be aimed at its own target. Vilha is also equipped with an inertial / satellite guidance kit that can use GPS and GLONASS satellite navigation systems.
Considering the pace of development of new missiles, in which considerable funds are invested (the Minister of Defense of Ukraine promised to allocate $ 150 million for the purchase of a new weapon system), it will not take long to wait for the replacement of the Smerch MLRS.
Meanwhile, the Russian NPO Splav, a subsidiary of Rostec, has developed Tornado-G and Tornado-S vehicle-based missile systems for the Russian Ministry of Defense to replace the outdated Smerch and Grad systems, respectively. MLRS "Tornado-S" is designed and manufactured in Russia and is an upgrade of the "Smerch" system. The new fire control system is equipped with satellite navigation, and the new computer system allows for faster, more accurate fire. Also, a new communication channel has been integrated into the platform for exchanging information about targets with the control center.
Tornado-S will fire all types of missiles currently in the arsenal of the Smerch MLRS, plus the new 9M542 guided missile. The 9M542 missile with a range of 40-120 km is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 150 kg.
MLRS "Tornado-G" with 40 guides, first shown in 2007, is equipped with an updated communication system and a digital control system. It can be integrated with the UAS "Orlan" for reconnaissance, guidance and adjustment of fire with the ability to aim the missile at the target automatically. According to Rostec, the Tornado-G fires 122-mm unguided rockets with a detachable high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
In February 2019, motorized riflemen from Samara received 15 Tornado-G MLRS. At this stage, it is expected that the production of variants of the "Tornado" family will continue until 2027.
More mobility
Despite the trend towards an increase in the market share of larger missiles with longer ranges, there is still a fairly strong global demand for smaller missiles and launchers with better mobility.
Arnold Defense's Fletcher system, in particular, stands out among Western HIMARS MLRS and proposals from state-owned companies in eastern states; The 70mm four-tube launcher is offered in a variety of configurations and can be mounted on a variety of vehicles. The system was recently shown at IDEX 2019 in the UAE, as conflicts in the region continue to shape operational theater and the need for similar systems.
At IDEX, the Fletcher system was shown on a Nimr Ajban Long Range Special Operations Vehicle. The platform has a payload of 3000 kg and has a top speed of 110 km / h. “The integration decision was made in line with our goal of providing the fighter with high-precision long-range fire, regular for even the smallest combat unit,” said a spokesman for Arnold Defense.
This is not the first time the Fletcher complex has been installed on a light tactical vehicle. To date, the system has been installed on the MATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) armored vehicle of the MRAP category, the ultra-light tactical Dagor and the MRZR family of Polaris Defense vehicles. All of these vehicles have been specially configured for difficult terrain and special operations.
A representative from Polaris Government and Defense pointed to the mobility and design flexibility of the Dagor and MRZR platforms, which allows them to be used as a base for the Fletcher complex and thereby expand its scope.
This is not the first time Nimr has presented its platform for small missile systems. At IDEX 2015, Raytheon's Talon was shown on the NIMR 6x6 platform (Hafeet 620A) as a concept. Although this particular combination was never sold to anyone, the continued presence of installations of this type at large arms exhibitions in the region suggests that the demand for them is quite high.
A spokesman for Nimr also confirmed that the company has deployed its vehicles with other short-range missile systems, although declined to provide details.
The region of the Middle East and North Africa, of course, determines such a demand, and in this regard, Patterson believes that the geopolitical situation here does not contribute to a drop in demand for small rocket launchers. "There are definitely many different systems available on the market and the industry can always help with that."
The customers of the Fletcher system are unknown at this stage, but it was developed based on the needs of the US and UK. "As for Fletcher, we do not comment on measures to protect our forces," - said the British Department of Defense.
A further direction in the development of the Fletcher system could be its integration into the American program for the container weapons system. Arnold Defense has confirmed that it is working closely with its development team.
Unmanned platforms can also provide certain capabilities. “We are working and negotiating with a number of manufacturers of uninhabited platforms, - said the representative of the Arnold Defense company. - As for our radar, we are definitely working in this direction. This is a fast growing market and there are many players on the market. We are already working with several of them and continue to negotiate with a few more."
The development of this system may be influenced by the trend of adopting larger systems, in particular the needs of the US Department of Defense. This means that a new variant of the Fletcher XL may appear in the next year and a half. Most likely, the number of pipes and the payload of missiles will increase. “Our goal is to stay as close to this topic as possible, so we can use whatever we've designed so far.”
Further growth
In the future, the increased range may become one of the most important characteristics of future rocket launchers.
“At the moment I see an increase in the range, which will indeed be a function of the rocket engines themselves. Take the standard high-precision system that we have today and expand its range beyond the line of sight. I think we will have these opportunities in the near future , - said a spokesman for Arnold Defense.
Other developments will remain in this changing paradigm, as the expanding set of targets leads to "a growing demand for a greater variety of unguided and guided missiles and launchers."
This opinion is supported by Patterson:
"Range is definitely a very important attribute, but there are a number of things that the US military wants to get … It's of course the availability of a wide variety of ammunition, launchers and the need to expand the range of capabilities."
Much attention is paid to the development of such guidance systems, such as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System by BAE Systems, which is currently a priority laser guidance program. "There may also be a demand for more modularity in launch systems," Patterson suggested. Whichever way the development goes, the comparative degree seems to win - more, further, smarter.
“The basic concept of a missile system, ground-based or mobile, is taken and actually expanded in all directions. We will have a long range and a great lethality. All these things are a consequence of the needs of the military community."
