U.S. demonstrates HIMARS rocket launcher rapid deployment in South China Sea to boost strike mobility.

On May 31, 2025, the U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force and U.S. Air Force, together with the Philippine Navy, conducted a rapid deployment of Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS rocket launcher during Exercise Salaknib 2025 in the Philippines. This marked the first dynamic insertion of HIMARS into the strategically vital Luzon Strait, highlighting unmatched air, land, and sea mobility to bolster U.S.-Philippine deterrence in the region.
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HIMARS uniquely enables rapid repositioning across dispersed island chains in the Indo-Pacific, providing agile and precise fires where needed most (Picture source: U.S. Marine Corps)

The M142 HIMARS is a highly mobile launcher system designed for rapid repositioning and precision deep strike. Mounted on a 6x6 wheeled chassis, it can deploy swiftly across austere environments and execute HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) via air transport, including aboard C-130J aircraft. During Salaknib 2025, U.S. forces demonstrated this capability by transporting and firing HIMARS within hours, significantly enhancing flexible response options. With readiness times under 5 minutes, HIMARS delivers precision fires using GMLRS rockets with ranges up to 85 km and the advanced PrSM capable of striking targets beyond 500 km, including moving maritime assets.

Originally developed for expeditionary operations, HIMARS offers greater mobility compared to heavier systems like the tracked M270 MLRS. Its combat record in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine underscores the value of speed and agility in modern conflict. Today’s integration of PrSM and networking with joint sensor systems elevates its role in multi-domain operations. The Luzon Strait deployment reflects two decades of evolving doctrine emphasizing rapid maneuver and long-range fires across contested maritime regions.

Compared to systems such as Russia’s Tornado-S and China’s PHL-16, HIMARS provides superior air mobility and operational flexibility. While Tornado-S delivers massed fires, it lacks the rapid airlift and precision engagement of HIMARS. Similarly, systems like the U.S. Marine Corps NMESIS remain more static in application. HIMARS uniquely enables rapid repositioning across dispersed island chains in the Indo-Pacific, providing agile and precise fires where needed most.

The strategic impact of this demonstration is considerable. The Luzon Strait is a key maritime chokepoint between the South China Sea and the Western Pacific, a focus area of Chinese A2AD strategies. The ability to quickly insert and reposition HIMARS within this space signals enhanced U.S.-Philippine readiness and complicates adversary targeting. It aligns with a broader U.S. Indo-Pacific force design prioritizing mobility, distributed lethality, and operational unpredictability.

HIMARS remains a priority investment for the U.S. Army, with over $1.2 billion allocated in FY2024-2025 for procurement and modernization. Demand is increasing globally, driven by battlefield performance and regional security dynamics. While the Philippines has shown interest in acquiring HIMARS under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, no finalized deal has been announced. Poland’s landmark order for 486 HIMARS in 2023 reflects the growing global appetite for highly mobile precision fires. Following Exercise Salaknib 2025, interest among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific is likely to accelerate further.