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Rheinmetall and EM&E Submit Joint Proposal for Spain’s SILAM High-Mobility Rocket Launcher Program.
Rheinmetall and Spain’s EM&E Group have submitted a joint proposal to the Spanish Ministry of Defence to develop a national high-mobility rocket artillery system under the SILAM program. The move underscores Madrid’s push for sovereign long-range fires and reduced reliance on foreign suppliers.
Rheinmetall and Spain’s EM&E Group have formally submitted a joint proposal to the Spanish Ministry of Defence for the development of a national high-mobility rocket launcher system under the SILAM (Sistema Lanzador de Alta Movilidad) program. Announced on January 14, 2026, the initiative signals a strategic redirection of Spain’s long-range fires modernization toward sovereign capability and industrial self-reliance, breaking away from dependency on foreign systems. The proposal is led by UTE SILAM, a “Unión Temporal de Empresas” (Temporary Business Union) formed between Rheinmetall Expal Munitions and EM&E, created to deliver a Spanish-designed and manufactured artillery solution with long-term sustainability.
Spain moves toward defense sovereignty as Rheinmetall and EM&E propose a fully national rocket artillery system under the SILAM program, aiming to strengthen technological autonomy and industrial resilience, with a Rheinmetall‑Lockheed Martin GMARS launcher shown here for illustrative purposes only (Picture Source: Rheinmetall)
According to Rheinmetall, the proposal includes the phased development and delivery of operational and test launchers, guided and training rockets, reconnaissance vehicles, and command and control platforms. Designed from the outset as a fully national program, the system has been developed through sustained cooperation with the Directorate General of Armament and Material, aligning the project with Spain’s operational requirements and strategic defense objectives.
The SILAM initiative is directly integrated into the Spanish Ministry of Defence’s Industrial and Technological Plan for Security and Defence. As a result, it aims to reinforce the national industrial and technological base, develop sovereign capabilities in guided munitions, and consolidate Spain’s role as a capable and reliable defense actor within the European Union and NATO. Rheinmetall highlights that the program will enable Spain to independently design, develop, and manufacture advanced rocket artillery systems, granting full control over the system's lifecycle and critical technologies.
While the current UTE SILAM proposal is presented as a nationally driven industrial initiative, it reflects a broader reorientation of the program’s trajectory. Earlier phases of SILAM had been associated with the integration of the PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) developed by Elbit Systems, for which a contract was awarded in 2023 involving Spanish industrial partners. That contract was subsequently terminated by the Spanish authorities, following a reassessment of the program within a changing strategic and political context. This decision marked a recalibration of Spain’s approach to long-range fires procurement and opened the way for a domestically led solution, now advanced through the joint proposal submitted by Rheinmetall and EM&E.
Although the new UTE SILAM architecture remains confidential, Rheinmetall’s past experience with the MARS II launcher and other NATO-standard artillery systems suggests that the proposed Spanish solution will likely incorporate modular pod launchers capable of firing various calibers, potentially ranging from 122mm to 227mm, including precision-guided munitions. These configurations would place SILAM in the same capability class as the U.S.-made HIMARS and the previously considered Israeli Lynx.
From a technical standpoint, UTE SILAM is expected to prioritize mobility, modularity, and C4I integration. The inclusion of command post and reconnaissance vehicles in the proposal points to a system designed for digital networked operations, capable of integrating with NATO joint fires networks. While specific performance data, such as range or rocket type, has not been disclosed, the emphasis on guided munitions and operational testing phases signals an ambition to produce a cutting-edge system tailored for the Spanish Army's evolving operational doctrine.
Strategically, the move to a sovereign launcher system marks a broader shift in European defense policy. In the context of the war in Ukraine and persistent questions over European strategic autonomy, the SILAM program illustrates Spain’s intent to reduce reliance on non-EU defense suppliers and strengthen its national defense industry. By developing its own precision fires capability, Spain joins a small group of countries with full-spectrum guided rocket artillery development, an area traditionally dominated by the United States, Israel, Russia, and China.
Furthermore, if the UTE SILAM system proves successful, Spain could emerge as a future supplier of European-made rocket artillery, offering partner nations a viable alternative to U.S. and Israeli systems. The program could also feed into broader EU defense initiatives, including Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects focused on joint fire support and munitions stockpiling.
The Rheinmetall-EM&E proposal for SILAM represents far more than a procurement offer. It is a deliberate move to reassert control over one of the most critical battlefield capabilities of modern warfare, precision long-range firepower, while advancing Spain’s defense industrial autonomy. Whether the Spanish Ministry of Defence chooses to endorse this national path over established foreign systems will shape not only the future of its land forces but also its role within an evolving European defense landscape.
Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.