Lockheed Martin will produce HIMARS rockets launchers for Poland and Romania.

American Company Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) will produce High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and associated hardware for the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Romania and Poland under a $492 million contract, marking Poland's first acquisition of HIMARS launchers.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Sawyer O. Newell, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher chief with 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 7, guides a HIMARS during dry fire missions in preparation for exercise Northern Edge (NE), May 11, 2019 at Fort Greely, Alaska. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The contract calls for the production and delivery of HIMARS launchers and associated equipment by 2022. The HIMARS vehicles will be produced from the ground up at Lockheed Martin's award-winning Camden, Ark., Precision Fires Center of Excellence.

"Lockheed Martin is very pleased that Poland has procured its first HIMARS launchers," said Gaylia Campbell, vice president of Precision Fires/Combat Maneuver Systems at Lockheed Martin. "These new HIMARS launchers will provide unparalleled mobile firepower to light and early entry forces, and our allies can count on Lockheed Martin's ongoing support in maintaining these combat-proven capabilities."

HIMARS launchers have exceeded 1.4 million operating hours and are currently demonstrating operational reliability over six times the specified requirement.

HIMARS is a lightweight mobile launcher, transportable via C-130 and larger aircraft for rapid deployment, that fires Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. HIMARS consists of a launcher loader module and fire control system mounted on a five-ton truck chassis. A specialized armored cab provides additional protection to the three crew members that operate the system.

In November 2019, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland of (20) High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, and other related equipment for an estimated cost of $655 million. Poland had requested the purchase of twenty (20) High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) M142 Launchers, thirty-six (36) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) M31 Unitary, nine (9) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) M30A1 Alternative Warheads, and thirty (30) Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) M57 Unitary.

In August 2017, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Romania for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related support and equipment. The estimated cost is $1.25 billion. The Government of Romania had requested the possible sale of fifty-four (54) High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) Launchers, eighty-one (81) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) M31A1 Unitary, eighty-one (81) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) M30A1 Alternative Warhead, and fifty-four (54) Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) M57 Unitary.