Germany approves the supply to Ukraine of two additional MARS II rocket launcher vehicles.

On Thursday, September 15, 2022, Defence Minister of Germany, Christine Lambrecht announced that Germany would supply two additional MARS II MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) to Ukraine. The MARS II is a German-made version of the American M270 MLRS.
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German army MARS II MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

With this announcement, Germany shows a strengthening in the supply of military equipment to Ukraine. Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from reserves of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government’s funds for security capacity building.

Under the 2022 budget process, the funds for the security capacity building initiative were increased to a total of 2 billion euros for the year 2022. The additional funds are to be used primarily to support Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used to finance Germany’s increased mandatory contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), which in turn goes towards reimbursing EU member states for costs incurred to them in providing support for Ukraine.

On July 26, 2022, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that Germany approved the delivery of three MARS II MLRS, the German version of the American M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

The MARS II also called MLRS-E is an upgraded version of the MARS which is the German version of the American-made M270 MLRS. The MARS II is able to fire 12 guided and unguided rockets in less than 60 seconds. It has a launcher pod mounted at the rear of tracked chassis equipped with 12 launcher tubes.

The MARS II of the German army is equipped with a new European Fire Control System (EFC) enabling the firing of guided rockets called GMLRS. It can also fire M31 GMLRS, M31A1, M32, AT2 and 110 mm rockets, but not of M26, M26A1, and M30, so as to ensure full compliance with the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The upgraded MARS II/MLRS-E with the new GMLRS is now able to conduct high-precision engagement of point and individual targets and is used as an artillery sniper weapon. The MARS II rocket has a minimum engagement range of 15 km and can hit a target of up to 70 km. It also integrates a 90 kg unitary warhead, providing precision strikes for point targets.