Lockheed Martin to possibly manufacture HIMARS MLRS in Australia.

The M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has attracted a lot of attention as one of the most efficient weapons delivered to the Ukrainian army to fight the Russian invader. A Lockheed Martin representative said that plans to manufacture missiles for this artillery system in Australia are being discussed, Ashish Dangwal reports in the Eurasian Times.
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U.S. Amy's 197 Field Artillery Regiment fires HIMARS at Fort Drum on July 20, 2021 (Picture source: US Army/Sgt. 1st Class Richard Frost, 603rd Public Affairs Detachment)

Australia is already negotiating with the US to procure the HIMARS: the US announced in May 2022 that it had granted Australia’s request to buy 20 units for about US$385 million (AU$542 million), Ashish Dangwal recalls.

Lockheed Martin Australia’s program director in the strategic capabilities office for missiles and fire control, James Heading, informed the media on October 4 that the company’s focus was on the rockets’ development rather than the launch vehicles. At the Land Forces 2022 conference in Brisbane, he stated that the company is investigating what Australia wants. “Part of that resilience in the supply chain goes straight to energetics”, Ashish Dangwal reports.

With Thales already on board as a teaming partner, the business aims to examine rocket motors and warheads. “It’s all well and good to talk about the casings, fins, body, and all sorts of things. We are exploring to see the capabilities and capacities here in Australia”, James Heading said. The guidance system for the HIMARS rockets (watch the HIMARS in action) can also be produced in Australia, but James Heading noted that this depends on what the US government will permit to be released, Ashish Dangwal reports.