British Army to Double Its Fleet of M270 MLRS by 2029.

The British Army is set to double its fleet of M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) by the end of the decade. A series of new, modernized launchers are being acquired to build a reinforced fleet that will meet both current and future requirements of the armed forces. Currently, the British Army operates 29 M270 MLRS platforms, equipped with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) munitions, providing long-range strike capabilities at distances of up to 70 kilometers.
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In addition to the acquired vehicles, two more launchers are currently in production, and a total of 61 M270 MLRS have already been ordered (Picture source: British MoD)

In September 2022, the United Kingdom announced its intention to acquire additional launchers from allied nations, including decommissioned vehicles from museums or those used as display pieces. It is now confirmed that 31 additional M270 MLRS vehicles have been acquired, sourced through various transfer operations as well as from other countries' fleets.

Among these new vehicles are MLRS launchers promised by Norway to the United Kingdom as part of a trilateral security agreement involving Ukraine. These Norwegian launchers, currently stored in the UK, will soon be sent to the United States for upgrades, likely to the A2 standard. However, these vehicles will require significant modernization efforts to become operational.

In addition to the acquired vehicles, two more launchers are currently in production, and a total of 61 M270 MLRS have already been ordered. Furthermore, 15 additional launchers are expected to be contracted in 2025, bringing the total number of platforms to 76 to meet the British Army's requirements. The full delivery of these M270 MLRS is planned by the end of 2029.

This significant increase in the number of M270s in the British Army could lead to a substantial restructuring of the country's long-range artillery units, particularly following the donation of more than half of its AS90 Braveheart 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. To bridge this gap, the UK temporarily acquired 14 Archer 155mm self-propelled howitzers from Sweden, though this remains a limited solution while awaiting the delivery of the future RCH 155, developed in collaboration with Germany.

The M270 MLRS, often described as a tracked version of HIMARS with double the payload capacity, carries 12 rockets housed in two pods of six rockets each (Picture source: British MoD)

With the expansion of the M270 MLRS fleet, the British Army could find itself in a more favorable position regarding its indirect fire capabilities. These efforts to strengthen long-range strike capacity echo NATO's concerns in recent years, especially in light of observations from the conflict in Ukraine. The need to bolster long-range strike fleets, including both 155mm artillery and MLRS systems, has been widely acknowledged.

It was previously announced in 2022 that the UK would upgrade nine of its M270 MLRS launchers to the A2 variant, as part of a $32 million contract. This upgrade process includes installing a new engine and redesigning the cabin, bringing it in line with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). That same year, Lockheed Martin, the original manufacturer of the M270, indicated that the modernization of an unspecified number of British MLRS would be completed by 2026.

The M270 MLRS, often described as a tracked version of HIMARS with double the payload capacity, carries 12 rockets housed in two pods of six rockets each. Mounted on a stretched Bradley chassis, this launch system features self-loading and autonomous aiming capabilities. The crew, consisting of three members (driver, gunner, and section chief), can launch 12 rockets in less than 60 seconds without leaving the enclosed cabin. Initially entering service in 1990, the British Army's modernized M270s are now expected to remain operational until at least 2050.

Additionally, the United States maintains a significant reserve of non-operational M270A0 MLRS launchers at its Red River storage facility, which has also been used for the U.S. Army's own M270 fleet modernization program.