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M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System
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The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is an American armored self-propelled multiple launch rocket system.

Key Information

The U.S. Army variant of the M270 is based on the chassis of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The first M270s were delivered in 1983, and were adopted by several NATO and non-NATO militaries. The platform first saw service with the United States in the 1991 Gulf War. It has received multiple improvements since its inception, including the ability to fire guided missiles. M270s have been used by Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[8]

Description

[edit]

Background

[edit]

In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union had a clear advantage over U.S. and NATO forces in terms of rocket artillery. Soviet doctrine dictated large-scale bombardment of a target area with large numbers of truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), such as the BM-21 "Grad".[9] By contrast, U.S. artillerists favored conventional large-caliber artillery for its relative accuracy and logistical efficiency. As a result, U.S. rocket artillery was limited to the remaining stock of World War II-era systems.[10]

This mindset began to change following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which saw heavy casualties, especially from rear-area weapons like surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). Israel effectively employed rocket artillery against these targets. The United States predicted that this requirement would persist in the event of a war in Europe. Thus, the need had arisen for a system that could engage enemy air defenses and provide counter-battery fire, freeing large-caliber artillery units to provide call-for-fire artillery support for ground forces.[10]

Boeing General Support Rocket System
Vought General Support Rocket System

The MLRS was initially conceived as the General Support Rocket System (GSRS). In December 1975, the U.S. Army Missile Command issued a request for proposal to industry to assist in determining the best technical approach for the GSRS.[11] In March 1976, the Army awarded contracts to Boeing, Emerson Electric, Martin Marietta, Northrop and Vought to explore the concept definition of the GSRS.[1] In September 1977, Boeing Aerospace and Vought were awarded contracts to develop prototypes of the GSRS.[1]

In 1978, the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command made changes to the program so that the GSRS could be manufactured in Europe.[1] This was to allow European nations, who had been independently pursuing their own MLRS programs, to buy in to the program.[10] In July 1979, the United States, West Germany, France and the United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding for joint development and production of GSRS. In November 1979, GSRS was accordingly redesignated the multiple launch rocket system.[11] Both competitors delivered three MLRS prototypes to the Army.[1]

The Army evaluated the MLRS prototypes from December 1979 – February 1980. In May 1980, the Army selected the Vought system. In early 1982, Vought began low-rate initial production.[12] In August 1982, the first production models were delivered.[10] In early 1983, the first units were delivered to the 1st Infantry Division.[12] In March 1983, the first operational M270 battery was formed. In September 1983, the first unit was sent to West Germany.[10]

European nations produced 287 MLRS systems, with the first being delivered in 1989.[12] Some 1,300 M270 systems have been manufactured in the United States and in Western Europe to date, along with more than 700,000 rockets of all kinds, including over 70,000 GMLRS guided munitions as of March 2024.[13][14]

Overview

[edit]

The M270 MLRS weapons system is collectively known as the M270 MLRS Self-Propelled Loader/Launcher (SPLL). The SPLL is composed of two primary subsystems; the M269 Launcher-Loader Module (LLM) houses the electronic fire-control system and sits atop the M993 Carrier Vehicle.[15]

Task Force XXI Armored Treatment and Transport Vehicle (ATTP)

The M993 is the designation of the M987 carrier when it is used in the MLRS. The M987/M993 is a lengthened derivative of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle chassis,[12] in which the ground contact length is increased from 154 to 170.5 inches (391 to 433 cm).[16] Originally called the Fighting Vehicle System, the M987 chassis was designed to serve as the basis for many other vehicles. These included the XM1070 Electronic Fighting Vehicle, the M4 Command and Control Vehicle, the Armored Treatment and Transport Vehicle and the Forward Area Armored Logistics System, the latter encompassing three vehicles, including the XM1007 AFARV rearm vehicle.[12][17]

The original GSRS plan called for 210 mm diameter rockets. After European allies became involved with the project, these were replaced with 227 mm rockets in order to accommodate the AT2 mine.[12]

Cold War doctrine for the M270 called for the vehicles to spread out individually and hide until needed, then move to a firing position and launch their rockets, immediately move away to a reloading point, then move to a completely new hiding position near a different firing point. These shoot-and-scoot tactics were planned to avoid susceptibility to Soviet counter-battery fire. One M270 firing 12 M26 rockets would drop 7,728 bomblets, and one MLRS battery of nine launchers firing 108 rockets had the equivalent firepower of 33 battalions of cannon artillery.[10]

The system can fire rockets or MGM-140 ATACMS missiles, which are contained in interchangeable pods. Each pod contains six standard rockets or one guided ATACMS missile; the two types cannot be mixed. The LLM can hold two pods at a time, which are handloaded using an integrated winch system. All twelve rockets or two ATACMS missiles can be fired in under a minute. One launcher firing twelve rockets can completely blanket one square kilometre with cluster munitions; a typical MLRS cluster salvo would involve three M270 vehicles firing together. With each rocket containing 644 M77 submunitions, the entire salvo would drop 23,184 submunitions in the target area. However, at a two percent dud rate, that would leave approximately 400 undetonated bombs scattered over the area, which could endanger friendly troops and civilians.[18]

Production of the M270 ended in 2003, when a last batch was delivered to the Egyptian Army.[citation needed] In 2003, the U.S. Army began low-rate production of the M142 HIMARS. The HIMARS fires all of the munitions of the MLRS, and is based on the chassis of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles.[19] As of 2012, BAE Systems still had the capability to restart production of the MLRS.[1]

In 2006, MLRS was upgraded to fire guided rounds. Phase I testing of a guided unitary round (XM31) was completed on an accelerated schedule in March 2006. Due to an Urgent Need Statement, the guided unitary round was quickly fielded and used in action in Iraq.[20] Lockheed Martin also received a contract to convert existing M30 Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) GMLRS rockets to the XM31 unitary variant.[21]

The M31 GMLRS Unitary rocket transformed the M270 into a point target artillery system for the first time. Due to Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance and a single 200 lb (91 kg) high-explosive warhead, the M31 could hit targets accurately with less chance of collateral damage while needing fewer rockets to be fired, reducing logistical requirements. The unitary warhead also made the MLRS able to be used in urban environments. The M31 had a dual-mode fuse with point detonation and delay options to defeat soft targets and lightly fortified bunkers respectively, with the upgraded M31A1 equipped with a multi-mode fuse adding a proximity airburst mode for use against personnel in the open; proximity mode can be set for 3 or 10 meters (9.8 or 32.8 ft) Height of Burst (HOB). The GMLRS has a minimum engagement range of 15 km (9.3 mi) and can hit a target out to 70 km (43 mi), impacting at a speed of Mach 2.5.[22][23] In 2009 Lockheed Martin announced that a GMLRS had been successfully test fired out to 92 km (57 mi).[24]

In April 2011, the first modernized MLRS II and M31 GMLRS rocket were handed over to the German Army's Artillery School in Idar Oberstein. The German Army operates the M31 rocket up to a range of 90 kilometres (56 mi).[25] A German developmental artillery system, called the Artillery Gun Module, has used the MLRS chassis on its developmental vehicles.[26]

In 2012, a contract was issued to improve the armor of the M270s and improve the fire control to the standards of the M142 HIMARS.[27] In June 2015, the M270A1 conducted tests of firing rockets after upgrades from the Improved Armored Cab project, which provides the vehicle with an enhanced armored cab and windows.[28]

In early March 2021, Lockheed announced they had successfully fired an extended-range version of the GMLRS out to 80 km (50 mi), part of an effort to increase the rocket's range to 150 km (93 mi).[29] Later in March the ER GMLRS was fired out to 135 km (84 mi).[30] In September 2023, Lockheed announced an ER GMLRS test achieved its maximum range of 150 km (93 mi).[31] The U.S. Army approved the ER GMLRS for production in May 2024.[32]

Service history

[edit]
The M270 MLRS conducts a rocket launch.

When first deployed with the U.S. Army, the MLRS was used in a composite battalion consisting of two batteries of traditional artillery (howitzers) and one battery of MLRS SPLLs (self-propelled loader/launchers). The first operational Battery was C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, 1st Infantry Division (Ft. Riley, Kansas) in 1982. The first operational organic or "all MLRS" unit was 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery.[33]

Originally, a battery consisted of three platoons with three launchers each for nine launchers per battery; by 1987, 25 MLRS batteries were in service. In the 1990s, a battery was reduced to six launchers.[10]

The 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery was reactivated as the Army's first MLRS battalion in October 1984, and became known as the "Rocket Busters". In March 1990, the unit deployed to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico to conduct the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation of the Army Tactical Missile System. The success of the test provided the Army with a highly accurate, long range fire support asset.[citation needed]

An M270 assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Brigade.

Gulf War

[edit]

The first combat use of the MLRS occurred in the Gulf War.[17] The U.S. deployed over 230 MLRS during Operation Desert Storm, and the UK an additional 16.[12]

In September 1990, the 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. Assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, the unit played a critical role in the early defense of Saudi Arabia. As Desert Shield turned into Desert Storm, the Battalion was the first U.S. Field Artillery unit to fire into Iraq. Over the course of the war, the 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery provided timely and accurate rocket and missile fires for both U.S. corps in the theater, the 82nd Airborne Division, the 6th French Light Armored Division, the 1st Armored, 1st Infantry Division, the 101st Airborne Division, and the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

A Battery 92nd Field Artillery (MLRS) was deployed to the Gulf War in 1990 from Ft. Hood Texas. 3/27th FA (MLRS) out of Fort Bragg deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. A/21st Field Artillery (MLRS) – 1st Cavalry Division Artillery deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield in September 1990. In December 1990, A-40th Field Artillery (MLRS) – 3rd Armored Division Artillery (Hanau), 1/27th FA (MLRS) part of the 41st Field Artillery Brigade (Babenhausen) and 4/27th FA (MLRS) (Wertheim) deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield from their bases in Germany and 1/158th Field Artillery from the Oklahoma Army National Guard deployed in January 1991.

A MLRS-System with launch vehicle, loader and a command center inside an M577 command vehicle.

MLRS launchers were deployed during Operation Desert Storm. Its first use was on 18 January 1991, when Battery A of the 6th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery fired eight ATACMS missiles at Iraqi SAM sites. In one engagement, three MLRS batteries fired 287 rockets at 24 separate targets in less than five minutes, an amount that would have taken a cannon battalion over an hour to fire.[10] In early February 1991, 4-27 FA launched the biggest MLRS night fire mission in history,[34] firing 312 rockets in a single mission.[citation needed] When ground operations began on 24 February 1991, 414 rockets were fired as the U.S. VII Corps advanced. Out of the 57,000 artillery rounds fired by the end of the war, 6,000 were MLRS rockets plus 32 ATACMS.[10]

Middle East

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The MLRS has since been used in numerous military engagements, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In March 2007, the British Ministry of Defence decided to send a troop of MLRS to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, using newly developed guided munitions.

In September 2005, the GMLRS was first used in Iraq, when two rockets were fired in Tal Afar over 50 kilometres (31 mi) and hit insurgent strongholds, killing 48 Iraqi fighters.[10]

During the Gaza war, Israel used the M270 for the first time since 2006, to fire on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.[35]

Mali

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The French army deployed them for the first time with occasional use between February and the end of April 2016 in Mali during Operation Barkhane with three M270s.[36]

Ukraine

[edit]
A French-donated LRU in Ukraine in 2022

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the United States considered sending the M270 MLRS as part of military aid to Ukraine. Concerns were raised that this system could be used to hit targets inside Russia.[37] US President Joe Biden initially declined to send it to Ukraine, but on May 31 he announced that the M142 HIMARS, another vehicle capable of firing GMLRS rockets, would be supplied.[38][39]

On 7 June 2022, British defence secretary Ben Wallace announced that the UK would send three (later increased to six) MLRS to aid Ukrainian forces.[40][41] On 15 June, Germany announced it would send three of its MARS vehicles from German Army stocks.[42] Ukraine announced they had received the first M270s on 15 July.[43] The German defence secretary Christine Lambrecht announced the arrival of the vehicles they contributed on 26 July 2022, and on 15 September Lambrecht announced that Germany would transfer two more.[44][45][46] France donated a total of six M270 LRU MLRS to Ukraine.[47]

During the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukraine used M270 with GMLRS rounds to destroy targets such as Russian military columns, artillery systems, and multiple launch rocket systems such BM-21 and BM-27.[48] Russian forces have relied on electronic warfare to jam GPS signals. The inertial navigation system of munitions such as GMLRS is immune to jamming, but less accurate than when paired with GPS coordinates.[49]

Ukrainian operated M270 were permitted to use ATACMS ballistic missiles, with launches against Russian targets in Crimea being recorded.[50] Ukrainian ATACMS strikes into Crimea are known to have hit Russian assets such as S-300/S-400 air defense systems and aircraft.[51][52]

Variants

[edit]
A British M270 MLRS in 2008 in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan (right vehicle)
British M270 firing at Otterburn Training Area in 2015
A MARS II of the German Army in 2009
  • M270 is the original version, which carries a weapon load of 12 rockets in two six-pack pods. This armored, tracked mobile launcher uses a stretched Bradley chassis and has a high cross-country capability.[citation needed]
  • M270A1 was the result of a 2005 upgrade program for the U.S. Army, and later on for several other states. The launcher appears identical to M270, but incorporates the Improved Fire Control System (IFCS) and an improved launcher mechanical system (ILMS). This allows for significantly faster launch procedures and the firing of GMLRS rockets with GPS-aided guidance. The US Army updated 225 M270 to this standard. When Bahrain ordered an upgrade of nine to "A1 minimum configuration" in 2022, it was stated to include CFCS.[53]
  • M270B1 British Army variant of the M270A1, which includes an enhanced armor package to give the crew better protection against IED attacks. Following an agreement struck with the United States Department of Defense, the British Army will be embarking on a five-year programme to update the M270B1 to the M270A2 standard. They are developing some UK-specific systems, including Composite Rubber Tracks (CRT), and a vehicle camera and radar system. Upgrade of the first tranche of launchers started in March 2022, with the fleet going through production over a four-year period. A new Fire Control System will be developed collaboratively with the US, the UK, Italy, and Finland.[54]
  • M270C1 was an upgrade proposal from Lockheed Martin involving the M142's Universal Fire Control System (UFCS) instead of IFCS.
  • M270D1 Finnish Army variant of the M270A1 that uses the M142's Universal Fire Control System (UFCS).[55]
  • MARS II / LRU / MLRS-I is a European variant of the M270A1 involving Germany, France, and Italy. Mittleres Artillerieraketensystem (MARS II)[56][57] The launchers are equipped with the European Fire Control System (EFCS) designed by Airbus Defence and Space.[58] The EFCS disables the firing of submunitions-carrying rockets to ensure full compliance with the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
  • M270A2 is a 2019 upgrade program to the US Army variant, which includes the new Common Fire Control System (CFCS) to allow the use of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). The update also includes a new 600 hp engine, upgraded and rebuilt transmission, and improved cabin armor protection. The U.S. Army will eventually upgrade its entire fleet of 225 M270A1 and an additional 160 decommissioned M270A0 launchers.[59]

Rockets and missiles

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"Steel Rain" – M77 DPICM submunition of type used by the M26 rocket. The M77 was developed from the M483A1 that was developed for artillery shells.

The M270 system can fire MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM) rockets and artillery missiles, which are manufactured and used by a number of platforms and countries. These include:

MLRS

[edit]

M26 and M28 rocket production began in 1980. Until 2005 they were the only rockets available for the M270 system. When production of the M26 series ceased in 2001, a total of 506,718 rockets had been produced.[60] Each rocket pod contains 6 identical rockets. The M26 rocket and its derivatives were removed from the US Army's active inventory in June 2009, as they did not satisfy a July 2008 Department of Defense policy directive, issued under President George W. Bush, that US cluster munitions that leave more than 1% of submunitions as unexploded ordnance must be destroyed by the end of 2018.[61] (The United States is not a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits them). The last use of the M26 rocket prior to its use with the GLSDB occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.[61]

  • M26 rockets carrying 644 DPICM M77 submunitions. Range: 15–32 kilometres (9.3–19.9 mi).[60] The submunitions that were used in these rockets prior to their use with the GLSDB covered an area of 0.23 km2. Dubbed "Steel Rain" by Iraqi soldiers, M26 rockets were used extensively during Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Initially fielded in 1983, the rockets have a shelf life of 25 years.[62] The US started destroying its M26 stocks in 2007, when the US Army requested $109 million for the destruction of 98,904 M26 MLRS rockets from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2012.[61] M26 rockets were removed from the US Army's active inventory in June 2009 and the remaining rockets were being destroyed as of 2009,[63] but the US requirement to destroy them was removed in 2017.[61] The UK and the Netherlands destroyed their stock of 60,000 M26 rockets by 2013, Italy destroyed its 3,894 rockets by 31 October 2015,[64] Germany its 26,000 by 25 November 2015,[65][66] France its 22,000 by 2017.[67] Finland acquired 400 M26 rockets with acquisition of MRLS vehicles from Norway for qualification testing and conversion into training rockets.[68]
  • M26A1 ER rockets carrying 518 M85 submunitions. Range: 15–45 kilometres (9.3–28.0 mi).[60] The M85 submunitions are identical to the M77 submunitions, except for the fuze. The M85 use the M235 mechanical/electronic self-destruct fuze to reduce hazardous duds and the potential for fratricide or collateral damage.[69]
  • M26A2 ER rockets carrying 518 M77 submunitions. Interim solution until the M26A1 ER entered service. Range: 15–45 kilometres (9.3–28.0 mi).[60] The M26A2 ER rockets have been retired from US Army service and the remaining rockets are being[when?] destroyed.[63]
  • M28 practice rockets. A M26 variant with three ballast containers and three smoke marking containers in place of the submunition payload. Production ceased in favor of the M28A1.
  • M28A1 Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR) with blunt nose. Range reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi). Production ceased in favor of the M28A2.
  • M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket (LCRRPR) with blunt nose. Range reduced to 9 kilometres (5.6 mi).
  • AT2 German M26 variant carrying 28 AT2 anti-tank mines. Range: 15–38 kilometres (9.3–23.6 mi)

GMLRS

[edit]

Guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) rockets have a GPS-aided inertial navigation system and extended range. Flight control is accomplished by four forward-mounted canards driven by electromechanical actuators. GMLRS rockets were introduced in 2005 and can be fired from the M270A1 and M270A2, the European M270A1 variants (British Army M270B1, German Army MARS II, French Army Lance Roquette Unitaire (LRU), Italian Army MLRS Improved (MLRS-I), Finnish Army M270D1), and the lighter M142 HIMARS launchers.

M30 rockets have an area-effects warhead, while M31 rockets have a unitary warhead, but the rockets are otherwise identical.[70] By December 2021, 50,000 GMLRS rockets had been produced,[71] with yearly production then exceeding 9,000 rockets. Each rocket pod contains 6 identical rockets. The cost of an M31 missile is estimated at $500,000,[72] though this may be the "export price", always higher than the amount charged to the U.S. Army.[73] According to the U.S. Army's budget, it will pay about $168,000 for each GMLRS in 2023.[74][75][76]

Both Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army report that the GMLRS has a maximum range of 70+ km (43+ mi).[77][78] According to a U.S. Department of Defense document the maximum demonstrated performance of a GMLRS is 84 km (52 mi),[79] a figure also reported elsewhere.[60][70] Another source reports a maximum range of about 90 km (56 mi). In 2009 Lockheed Martin announced that a GMLRS had been successfully test fired 92 km (57 mi).[80]

During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Russian forces have relied on electronic warfare to jam GPS signals. The inertial navigation system is immune to jamming, but less accurate than when paired with GPS coordinates and can miss the target. Ukraine attempted to mitigate the jamming by changes to the software and attacking Russian jamming systems by artillery.[49]

  • M30 rockets carrying 404 DPICM M101 submunitions. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). 3,936 produced between 2004 and 2009. Production ceased in favor of the M30A1.[70] The remaining US Army M30 rockets have been converted to the M31 (unitary warhead) variant.[21]
  • M30A1 rockets with Alternative Warhead (AW). Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). The M30's submunitions are replaced with about 182,000 pre-formed tungsten fragments, to give area effects, but without leaving unexploded submunitions.[81] The system uses a proximity sensor fuze mode with a 10 meter height of burst.[82] Entered production in 2015.[70][60]
  • M30A2 rockets with Alternative Warhead (AW). Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M30A1 with Insensitive Munition Propulsion System (IMPS). The only M30 variant in production since 2019.[83]
  • M31 rockets with 200-pound (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Entered production in 2005. The warhead is produced by General Dynamics and contains 23 kg (51 lb) of PBX-109 high explosive in a steel blast-fragmentation case.[84][85]
  • M31A1 rockets with 200-pound (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M31 with new multi-mode fuze that added airburst to the M31's fuze point detonation and delay.[86]
  • M31A2 rockets with 200-pound (91 kg) high-explosive unitary warhead. Range: 15–92 kilometres (9.3–57.2 mi). Improved M31A1 with Insensitive Munition Propulsion System (IMPS). The only M31 variant in production since 2019.[83]
  • M32 SMArt German variant produced by Diehl Defence carrying 4 SMArt anti-tank submunitions and new flight software. Developed for MARS II, but has not been ordered as of 2019, so is not in service.[87]
  • ER GMLRS rockets with extended range of up to 150 km (93 mi).[88] Uses a slightly bigger rocket motor, a newly designed hull, and tail-driven guidance, while still being six per pod. It will come in unitary and AW variants.[89] The first successful test flight was in March 2021.[90] In early 2021, Lockheed Martin anticipated putting it into its production line in the fiscal year 2023 contract award and was planning to produce the new rockets at its Camden facility.[30] In 2022 Finland became the first foreign customer to order it.[91]

GLSDB

[edit]
Main article: Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb

The Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb is a weapon made by Boeing and the Saab Group, who modified Boeing's GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the addition of a rocket motor. It has a range of up to 150 km (93 mi).

ATACMS

[edit]
Main article: ATACMS

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a series of 610 mm surface-to-surface missile (SSM) with a range of up to 300 kilometres (190 mi). Each rocket pod contains one ATACMS missile. As of 2022 only the M48, M57, and M57E1 remain in the US military's active inventory.

  • M39 (ATACMS BLOCK I) missile with inertial guidance. The missile carries 950 M74 Anti-personnel and Anti‑materiel (APAM) bomblets. Range: 25–165 kilometres (16–103 mi). 1,650 M39 were produced between 1990 and 1997, when production ceased in favor of the M39A1. During Desert Storm 32 M39 were fired at Iraqi targets and during Operation Iraqi Freedom a further 379 M39 were fired.[70][60] The remaining M39 missiles are being updated since 2017 to M57E1 missiles.[92][93] The M39 is the only ATACMS variant which can be fired by all M270 and M142 variants.[94]
  • M39A1 (ATACMS BLOCK IA) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The missile carries 300 M74 Anti-personnel and Anti‑materiel (APAM) bomblets. Range: 20–300 kilometres (12–186 mi). 610 M39A1 were produced between 1997 and 2003. During Operation Iraqi Freedom 74 M39A1 were fired at Iraqi targets.[70][60] The remaining M39A1 missiles are being updated since 2017 to M57E1 missiles.[92][93] The M39A1 and all subsequently introduced ATACMS missiles can only be used with the M270A1 (or variants thereof) and the M142.[95]
  • M48 (ATACMS Quick Reaction Unitary (QRU) missile with GPS-aided guidance. It carries the 500-pound (230 kg) WDU-18/B penetrating high explosive blast fragmentation warhead of the US Navy's Harpoon anti-ship missile, which was packaged into the newly designed WAU-23/B warhead section. Range: 70–300 kilometres (43–186 mi). 176 M48 were produced between 2001 and 2004, when production ceased in favor of the M57. During Operation Iraqi Freedom 16 M48 were fired at Iraqi targets a further 42 M48 were fired during Operation Enduring Freedom.[70][60] The remaining M48 missiles remain in the US Army and US Marine Corps' arsenal.
  • M57 (ATACMS TACMS 2000) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The missile carries the same WAU-23/B warhead section as the M48. Range: 70–300 kilometres (43–186 mi). 513 M57 were produced between 2004 and 2013.[70][60]
  • M57E1 (ATACMS Modification (MOD) missile with GPS-aided guidance. The M57E1 is the designation for upgraded M39 and M39A1 with re-grained motor, updated navigation and guidance software and hardware, and a WAU-23/B warhead section instead of the M74 APAM bomblets. The M57E1 ATACMS MOD also includes a proximity sensor for airburst detonation.[92] Production commenced in 2017 with an initial order for 220 upgraded M57E1.[70][60] The program is slated to end in 2024 with the introduction of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which will replace the ATACMS missiles in the US arsenal.

PrSM

[edit]
Main article: Precision Strike Missile

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a new series of GPS-guided missiles, which will begin to replace ATACMS missiles from 2024. PrSM carries a newly designed area-effects warhead and has a range of 60–499 kilometres (37–310 mi). PrSM missiles can be launched from the M270A2 and the M142, with rockets pods containing 2 missiles. As of 2022 the PrSM is in low rate initial production with 110 missiles being delivered to the US military over the year. PrSM will enter operational service in 2023.[96][70][97]

Reverse engineering

[edit]
  • Turkey PARS SAGE-227 F (Turkey): Experimental Guided MLRS (GMLRS) developed by TUBITAK-SAGE to replace the M26 rockets.

Israeli rockets

[edit]

Israel developed its own rockets to be used in the "Menatetz", an upgraded version of the M270 MLRS.

  • Trajectory Corrected Rocket (TCS/RAMAM): In-flight trajectory corrected for enhanced accuracy.
  • Ra'am Eithan ("Strong Thunder"): an improved version of the TCS/RAMAM (in-flight trajectory corrected for enhanced accuracy) with significantly decreased percentage of duds.

British missiles

[edit]

As part of the circa £2bn Land Deep Fires Programme (LDFP), the British Army intends a large scale modernization effort of its GMLRS capability involving both an increase in the number of launchers and an expansion in the variety of effectors available.[98] The British Army launchers will be upgraded to the M270A2 standard and additional launchers will be purchased and upgraded from stockpiles likely from the US for a total of 76 launchers and 9 recovery vehicles.[98][99] M270A2 will include a number of British-specific upgrades such as new composite rubber tracks, radar and video sensors, as well as the new jointly developed fire control system from the UK, US, Italy, and Finland.[99]

Alongside the procurement of GMLRS-ER and the possible procurement of the PrSM, the UK is also developing two additional effectors under its 'one launcher, many payloads' concept:

  • Dispensing-Rocket Payload: developed under 'Technical Demonstrator Program 5', a UK designed dispensing payload that replaces the standard warheads for the GMLRS-ER and PrSM. It is capable of deploying small UAVs such as Lockheed Martin UK's OUTRIDER for ISTAR, battle damage assessment, and electronic warfare; or a number of Thales UK's free-fall lightweight multirole missile (FFLMM) for anti-armour capability.[100][101]
  • Land Precision Strike (LPS): derived from MBDA UK's CAMM and Brimstone products; designed to complement the GMLRS-ER by enabling the engagement of high value, time sensitive, and mobile targets out to 80–150 km (50–93 mi).[102][101][99][103] MBDA graphics show that LPS could be used on a number of platforms including the M270 with an additional vehicle sporting the two way data link pod, Boxer (as a mission module), or MBDA's iLauncher.[102]

French missiles

[edit]

Developed by MBDA France and Safran as a candidate for the Feux Longue Portée-Terre (FLP-T) or Land Long Range Fires procurement program, the Thundart guided artillery rocket is designed to have a range of 150 km and the ability to be fired from the French version of the M270, the Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU).[104]

Alternative Warhead Program

[edit]

In April 2012, Lockheed Martin received a $79.4 million contract to develop a GMLRS incorporating an Alliant Techsystems-designed alternative warhead to replace DPICM cluster warheads. The AW version is designed as a drop-in replacement with little modification needed to existing rockets. An Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) program was to last 36 months, with the alternative warhead GMLRS expected to enter service in late 2016.[105] The AW warhead is a large airburst fragmentation warhead that explodes 30 ft (9.1 m) over a target area to disperse penetrating projectiles. Considerable damage is caused to a large area while leaving behind only solid metal penetrators and inert rocket fragments[106] from a 90 kilograms (200 lb) warhead containing approximately 182,000 preformed tungsten fragments.[107] The unitary GMLRS also has an airburst option, but while it produces a large blast and pieces of shrapnel, the AW round's small pellets cover a larger area.[108]

In May 2013, Lockheed and ATK test fired a GMLRS rocket with a new cluster munition warhead developed under the Alternative Warhead Program (AWP), aimed at producing a drop-in replacement for DPICM bomblets in M30 guided rockets. It was fired by an M142 HIMARS and traveled 35 km (22 mi) before detonating. The AWP warhead will have equal or greater effect against materiel and personnel targets, while leaving no unexploded ordnance behind.[109]

In October 2013, Lockheed conducted the third and final engineering development test flight of the GMLRS alternative warhead. Three rockets were fired from 17 kilometers (11 mi) away and destroyed their ground targets. The Alternative Warhead Program then moved to production qualification testing.[110] The fifth and final Production Qualification Test (PQT) for the AW GMLRS was conducted in April 2014, firing four rockets from a HIMARS at targets 65 kilometers (40 mi) away.[111]

In July 2014, Lockheed successfully completed all Developmental Test/Operational Test (DT/OT) flight tests for the AW GMLRS. They were the first tests conducted with soldiers operating the fire control system, firing rockets at mid and long-range from a HIMARS. The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) exercise was to be conducted in fall 2014.[112]

In September 2015, Lockheed received a contract for Lot 10 production of the GMLRS unitary rocket, which includes the first order for AW production.[113]

Specifications

[edit]
"Menatetz" (מנתץ), an Israeli upgraded version of the M270 MLRS used by the Israel Defense Forces Artillery Corps
  • Entered service: 1982, US Army
  • First use in action: 1991, Gulf War
  • Crew: 3
  • Weight loaded: 24,756 kilograms (54,578 lb)
  • Length: 6.86 meters (22 ft 6 in)
  • Width: 2.97 meters (9 ft 9 in)[114]
  • Height (stowed): 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)[115]
  • Height (max. elevation): not available
  • Maximum road speed: 64 km/h (40 mph)
  • Cruise range: 480 kilometres (300 mi)
  • Reload time: 4 min (M270) 3 min (M270A1)
  • Engine: Turbocharged V8 Cummins VTA903 diesel 500 hp ver2.
  • Transmission: Cross-drive turbo transmission, fully electronically controlled
  • Average unit cost: $2.3 million per launcher (FY 1990),[citation needed] $168,000 per M31 GMLRS rocket (FY 2023)[116]

Operators

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A map of M270 operators
  Current
  Former
An Israel Defense Forces M270 MLRS "Menatetz" on display
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force M270

Current operators

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M270

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M270A1

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M270A2

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  •  United States: United States Army (840+151), 225 M270A1 and 160 M270A2 being delivered.[128] The first M270A2 launcher was delivered 9 July 2022.[138] GMLRS and ATACMS operational.[128]
    • Estimated (70) M270A2 as of January 2025[131]: 37 

Former operators

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M270

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See also

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References

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Sources

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  • Hunnicutt, Richard Pearce (15 September 2015) [1999]. "The Fighting Vehicle System Carrier". Bradley: A History of American Fighting and Support Vehicles. Battleboro, VT: Echo Point Books & Media. pp. 308–318. ISBN 978-1-62654-153-5.
[edit]
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M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System

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from Grokipedia
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is an armored, self-propelled, designed for high-volume, rapid-fire surface-to-surface and delivery in support of ground forces. Mounted on a tracked based on the Fighting Vehicle, the system carries two launch pods, enabling it to fire up to twelve unguided or guided rockets or two longer-range missiles in salvos, with automated reloading and firing capabilities operated by a three-person crew. Developed jointly by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy starting in 1977 under the General Support Rocket System program, the M270 entered U.S. Army service in 1983 following contracts awarded to Vought and Boeing for prototype production. Its core capabilities include compatibility with the MLRS Family of Munitions (MFOM), encompassing free-flight rockets like the M26 with cluster warheads for area suppression up to 32 kilometers and precision-guided variants such as the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) extending effective range to 70 kilometers or more, alongside Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles reaching 300 kilometers for deep strikes. The M270 has seen extensive combat deployment, first in the 1991 where U.S. and coalition forces used it to deliver suppressive "steel rain" barrages against Iraqi artillery and command nodes, demonstrating its role in and shaping operations. Operated by over 20 nations including allies and partners like , , and , the system has evolved through upgrades like the M270A1 and A2 variants for enhanced mobility, survivability, and integration with extended-range munitions, maintaining relevance in modern networked warfare despite debates over reliability and international restrictions on their use.

Development and Design

Origins in Cold War Doctrine

The U.S. Army's General Support Rocket System (GSRS) program originated in March 1974 when the Field Artillery School formalized requirements for a new capability to address deficiencies in existing fire support systems amid escalating tensions in . This initiative responded to the Pact's projected 3:1 numerical superiority in and systems, necessitating a platform capable of delivering long-range, high-volume fires to outrange and suppress massed Soviet armored formations and counter-battery threats. The doctrine emphasized saturating large areas with rapid salvos to achieve suppressive effects, prioritizing systems that could disrupt deep enemy echelons while maintaining operational tempo against numerically superior adversaries. Empirical observations from recent conflicts informed the program's conceptual foundation. The Yom Kippur War of 1973 highlighted the devastating potential of massed in suppressing air defenses and armored advances, underscoring the need for U.S. forces to replicate such effects against Soviet-style tactics. Similarly, lessons from the stressed the importance of mobile, flexible fire support to evade , influencing GSRS designs for quick emplacement, engagement, and displacement—commonly termed "shoot-and-scoot" tactics—to enhance survivability on a fluid battlefield. These insights, combined with post-Vietnam doctrinal shifts toward high-intensity European warfare, drove the focus on a launcher capable of firing 12 rockets in under 60 seconds to blanket targets with thousands of submunitions over areas exceeding 600 square meters. By 1976, the program advanced through concept definition studies, with NATO allies including , the , and agreeing to collaborative development to standardize and share costs for countering the Soviet threat. Contracts were awarded in 1977 to industry teams led by and , marking the transition from doctrinal requirements to prototype engineering focused on wheeled or tracked mobility for rapid repositioning. The GSRS was redesignated the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) in 1979, reflecting its evolution into a versatile general support asset integrated into emerging AirLand Battle concepts for multi-echelon operations.

Key Design Features and Engineering

The M270 employs a stretched chassis derived from the Fighting Vehicle, configured as a full-tracked armored carrier to ensure high mobility across varied terrain. This design provides cross-country performance comparable to main battle tanks like the , with a maximum road speed of 64 km/h and a cruising range exceeding 480 km. The armored crew compartment shields the three-person crew from small arms fire and shell fragments, enhancing survivability during repositioning maneuvers essential for tactics. Central to the system's architecture is the launcher-loader module (LLM), comprising two pivot-mounted pods that can be independently elevated via hydraulic actuators for precise targeting. The integrates an onboard computer that automates aiming adjustments, accounting for factors such as vehicle cant, ambient , and ballistic computations, enabling a full 12-rocket salvo to be ripple-fired in under . The modular pod design supports rapid reloading by a minimal crew, typically using dedicated resupply vehicles equipped with cranes to exchange empty pods for loaded ones, minimizing the time the launcher remains vulnerable to . This engineering emphasis on quick cycle times—facilitating reload and relocation in minutes—stems from doctrinal requirements for sustained support while preserving platform longevity in contested environments.

Initial Testing and Production

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System originated from contracts awarded to and on September 16, 1977, for prototype development of the General Support Rocket System (GSRS). Vought fired the first test rocket from a fixed tube on December 5, 1977, followed by pod-based flight testing starting April 14, 1978, and the initial six-rocket "six-pack" launch on March 30, 1979, from the self-propelled launcher-loader (SPLL). These early prototypes validated basic rocket propulsion and pod containment under field conditions. Vought was selected as prime contractor on April 29, 1980, with low-rate initial production approved in May 1980 after Defense Systems Acquisition Review Council (DSARC) III milestone. Maturation flight tests at from November 1980 to May 1982 included a landmark full-salvo firing of 12 rockets on February 10, 1982, impacting a target at approximately 16 km, demonstrating system reliability for ripple fire. Further trials confirmed M26 rocket ranges exceeding 30 km and effective area saturation against simulated massed armor, with the onboard fire control computing accurate firing solutions to achieve high-probability coverage over designated zones. Full-rate production commenced after Secretary of the approval on April 14, 1983, following delivery of the first seven low-rate SPLLs in 1982 and initial M42 warhead rockets on May 19, 1982. Initial operational capability was attained on March 31, 1983, with the first tactical battery equipped at , . Vought (subsequently Vought Systems) ramped up manufacturing through the 1980s, producing over 1,300 units cumulatively into the early 1990s at an average unit cost of $2.3 million in fiscal year 1990 dollars, enabling rapid deployment to equip U.S. divisions against threats via empirically proven long-range, high-volume fires.

Armament and Munitions

Unguided Rocket Systems

The M26 serves as the foundational unguided munition for the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, featuring a 227 mm diameter and a maximum range of 32 kilometers achieved through via four fins. Each rocket contains 644 M77 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) submunitions, which deploy to cover an elliptical pattern roughly 200 by 100 meters, delivering fragmentation effects optimized for penetrating light armor and incapacitating personnel in dispersed formations. This configuration supports volume fire tactics, saturating designated areas to deny enemy maneuver space and disrupt concentrations of troops or soft-skinned vehicles without dependence on guidance systems. The M77 submunitions employ a shaped-charge for anti-armor penetration alongside incendiary and blast effects for broader area denial, with design testing aimed at minimizing failure rates to below 5 percent under nominal impact conditions. However, evaluations including U.S. General Accounting Office assessments have documented submunition failure rates as high as 23 percent in certain lots, contributing to persistent hazards that undermine long-term denial efficacy. Shorter firing ranges below 10 kilometers exacerbate dud probabilities due to suboptimal dispersion and impact velocities, as noted in U.S. Army field manuals. Extended-range variants address range limitations while preserving unguided saturation principles: the M26A1 incorporates an elongated motor and 518 M85 DPICM submunitions—an iteration of the M77 with mechanisms to reduce duds—extending effective reach to 45 kilometers. The M26A2 substitutes 518 standard M77 submunitions for similar range gains via weight reduction, maintaining compatibility with existing pods but retaining the baseline submunition's reliability profile. These adaptations sustain the doctrine of rapid, high-volume barrages for counter-battery and suppression roles, trading submunition density for standoff distance.

Precision-Guided Rockets and Missiles

The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) incorporates GPS-aided inertial navigation to deliver precision-guided rockets from the M270, shifting its role from area saturation to targeted engagements against high-value assets like command centers and supply depots. Fielded operationally from 2005 onward, GMLRS achieves ranges beyond 70 km with a circular error probable (CEP) under 10 meters, employing a 90 kg unitary high-explosive warhead that limits fragmentation and unintended effects relative to prior submunition payloads. Production has exceeded 60,000 units, supported by a reliability rate above 98 percent in flight and impact performance. The M270 accommodates GMLRS in standard six-rocket pods compatible with its dual-launcher setup, enabling crews to configure loads blending precision rounds with other munitions for adaptive fire missions; developmental and operational testing has validated effectiveness in point-target destruction, with consistent hits on simulated infrastructure under varied conditions. The Extended-Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) variant, developed starting in 2018, boosts maximum range to 150 km using an enhanced motor and trajectory controls while retaining baseline guidance accuracy and payload flexibility. Entering low-rate production in 2024 following successful qualification tests, ER GMLRS facilitates standoff strikes against defended positions, allowing M270 units to engage from distances evading short-to-medium-range adversary air defenses in contested environments.

Integration of Advanced Payloads

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System accommodates the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in dedicated pods, with each pod housing one missile to enable deep-strike capabilities beyond standard rocket ranges. Block I ATACMS variants, fielded in the , deliver ranges of approximately 165 km with inertial guidance for surface-to-surface strikes, while Block IA upgrades from the early incorporate GPS-aided inertial navigation to extend effective range to over 300 km by optimizing and efficiency. These integrations support theater-level suppression missions, targeting enemy command nodes, air defense sites, and logistics to disrupt adversary operations at standoff distances. Ukrainian forces integrated ATACMS with M270 launchers by 2024, conducting confirmed strikes into Russian territory using the system's pod compatibility for precision deep fires amid ongoing conflict demands. The (PrSM) serves as the ATACMS successor, designed for M270A2 compatibility with ranges exceeding 400 km to address evolving long-range precision needs against mobile and hardened targets. Initial low-rate production and fielding commenced in late 2023, with flight tests from M270A2 platforms validating launcher integration and flight performance through 2025. PrSM's modular architecture facilitates future increments for enhanced lethality in peer conflicts. Complementing ballistic options, the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) adapts air-dropped Small Diameter Bomb technology for M270 pod firing, achieving 150 km range via rocket-boosted glide for flexible strikes in airspace-denied scenarios. Prototyped for rapid deployment around 2023, GLSDB entered combat use by Ukrainian operators in , providing submeter accuracy with a multipurpose to engage time-sensitive targets beyond conventional rocket limits.

Variants and Modernization

Baseline M270

The baseline M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, introduced into U.S. Army service in 1983, consists of a tracked launcher-loader module mounted on an M993 carrier vehicle derived from the chassis, capable of carrying and firing 12 M26 unguided 227 mm rockets arranged in two six-rocket pods. Each M26 rocket has a range of 32 kilometers and delivers 644 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions submunitions for area suppression. The system employs a basic fire control section with analog and early digital components for rapid pod alignment and firing sequences, enabling all 12 rockets to be launched in under 60 seconds. Weighing approximately 24.9 tons when fully loaded, the M270 requires a of three—a driver, gunner, and section chief—and achieves a maximum speed of 64 km/h with a operational range of 435 km, facilitating high mobility across varied . Designed primarily for division-level support in Cold War-era scenarios, it emphasizes "shoot-and-scoot" tactics, allowing repositioning within minutes to minimize exposure to enemy while maintaining a standoff distance of 1-2 hours from forward lines through extended rocket reach and vehicular agility. This configuration prioritizes volume of fire over precision, delivering the equivalent suppressive effect of multiple battalions in a single salvo. Early operational drills demonstrated the baseline M270's superiority in response time over towed systems, with self-propelled loading and firing cycles reducing setup from hours to minutes, enhancing and integration with maneuver units. The U.S. phased out the unmodified baseline variant in favor of upgraded models incorporating enhanced electronics and munitions compatibility, though numerous allied forces continue to operate it due to its proven reliability and lower modernization costs.

M270A1 Upgrade

The M270A1 upgrade program modernized the original M270 launcher during the early 2000s to extend its operational lifespan and integrate compatibility with advanced munitions. Initiated with a low-rate initial production contract in December 2000 for 66 units to be delivered by 2004, the upgrade focused on replacing obsolete components while enhancing system reliability and fire direction capabilities. Key enhancements included the Improved Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS), which upgraded the hydraulic and mechanical components to support larger rocket pods for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) munitions, increasing the launcher's combat weight to approximately 25 tons. A primary component of the M270A1 was the Improved Fire Control System (IFCS), which incorporated (GPS) integration for precise navigation and targeting, along with enhanced data processing to handle larger mission datasets and reduce crew workload during operations. This digital upgrade replaced analog systems prone to failure, enabling faster mission planning and execution, particularly in dynamic environments like those encountered in and where units were fielded post-upgrade. The IFCS also included for rapid fault isolation, improving overall system maintainability. By 2010, the U.S. Army had upgraded over 500 M270 launchers to the A1 standard out of an inventory of approximately 850, leveraging the program to bridge legacy systems to modern precision-guided capabilities amid fiscal pressures that limited new procurement. These upgrades ensured with unguided rockets while prioritizing with GPS-aided munitions, thereby sustaining the platform's relevance without full fleet replacement. Internationally, the M270A1 has been adapted into variants such as Finland's M270D1, which incorporates the Universal Fire Control System (UFCS) from the M142 HIMARS.

M270A2 and Future Enhancements

The M270A2 variant, fielded by the U.S. Army starting in late 2024, incorporates the Common Fire Control System (CFCS) to enable firing of Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS) rockets with ranges up to 150 kilometers and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) capable of reaching 400 kilometers in tested configurations. Additional mechanical upgrades include a 600-horsepower , enhanced transmission, and an enlarged armored cab for improved survivability and mobility over legacy models. The CFCS standardizes fire control interfaces across MLRS family platforms, facilitating with joint networks for synchronized, data-linked targeting. The 41st Field Artillery Brigade received the first M270A2 units on December 17, 2024, initiating fleet-wide recapitalization under contracts valued at up to $214 million awarded to in May 2025. In August 2025, U.S. Army deployments of M270A2 launchers to commenced, positioning them forward to counter Russian threats through extended-range precision fires integrated into deterrence postures. These systems support peer-level conflicts by enabling rapid salvoes of 12 ER GMLRS or four PrSM per launcher pod, with modular pods allowing quick reconfiguration for diverse payloads. Looking ahead, M270A2 enhancements prioritize adaptability to contested environments, including PrSM increments for ranges beyond 499 kilometers and potential integration with autonomous targeting architectures derived from operational data in high-threat theaters like . The platform's open CFCS design accommodates software-defined upgrades for drone countermeasures and reduced crew exposure, with U.S. Army science and technology efforts targeting autonomous launcher variants by the late to address saturation threats from munitions. Ongoing tests validate network-enabled firing modes that link multiple launchers for volley fires exceeding 100 rockets in under 60 seconds.

Operational History

Gulf War Deployment (1991)

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) entered combat for the first time during Operation Desert Storm in January–February 1991, with U.S. Army units deploying approximately 90 launchers as part of coalition artillery forces integrated into the air-land battle doctrine. These systems, primarily from the 27th Field Artillery Brigade and attached to VII Corps, supported the ground offensive by delivering rapid, saturating rocket barrages against Iraqi forward defenses and rear-area assets. U.S. and British M270 batteries fired roughly 10,000 M26 rockets carrying dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) submunitions, alongside 32 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) launches for deeper strikes; this represented the initial operational employment of DPICM-loaded cluster warheads in MLRS pods. The M26 rockets, each dispersing 644 bomblets over a 0.23-square-kilometer area, targeted Iraqi artillery batteries, armored concentrations, and logistics nodes, contributing to the destruction or suppression of enemy fire support capabilities that hindered coalition maneuver. Initial battle damage assessments reported effective neutralization of area targets, with MLRS fires playing a key role in disrupting Iraqi command and control during the 100-hour ground phase. MLRS employment against divisions, such as the Tawakalna, exemplified its tactical impact; synchronized with VII Corps' envelopment on February 26–27, rocket salvos suppressed elite mechanized forces, enabling armored breakthroughs and accelerating the collapse of Iraqi defenses in the theater. procedures—firing a full 12-rocket salvo then displacing at speeds up to 64 km/h—minimized exposure to Iraqi counter-battery radars and guns, with no M270 vehicles lost to enemy throughout the campaign, validating the platform's survivability design against numerically superior foes. Overall, the system's performance exceeded pre-war projections, delivering firepower equivalent to multiple conventional battalions in minutes while preserving launcher mobility.

Middle East Conflicts (1990s–2010s)

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, which commenced on March 20, 2003, U.S. Army M270 MLRS units delivered suppressive fires against Iraqi military targets, including command and control nodes, air defense sites, and armored formations of the Republican Guard. One division artillery MLRS battalion allocated 270 M26 rocket pods and 54 ATACMS missiles for initial operations, enabling rapid saturation of area targets to support ground advances. The introduction of the ATACMS Block IA unitary warhead in March-April 2003 represented its first combat deployment, featuring a single high-explosive payload to limit post-strike hazards from submunitions in populated zones. In the ensuing phase through the 2000s, M270 systems sustained logistical demands for prolonged engagements against asymmetric threats, incorporating reload operations under fire and integration with for dynamic targeting. This addressed urban environments where precision was prioritized to mitigate civilian risks, with units firing thousands of rockets to neutralize networks and insurgent safe houses. The utilized M270 MLRS extensively in the Second Lebanon War from July 12 to August 14, 2006, against positions in . Systems launched M26-series s, including those with cluster submunitions, targeting suspected rocket launch sites and command posts to counter barrages into northern . These strikes contributed to disrupting Hezbollah's operational tempo, as evidenced by reduced rocket fire rates in later war phases, though comprehensive supply line interdiction remained challenging due to terrain and mobility. Turkish forces integrated M270 platforms, acquired in the mid-1990s, into operations against PKK militants in southeastern and northern during the 2000s, employing extended-range firings to engage high-value targets in rugged terrain. The system's mobility and volume of fire supported cross-border raids, adapting to guerrilla tactics by providing standoff suppression amid ongoing dynamics.

African and Other Interventions

In February 2016, the French Army's force deployed Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) systems, a modernized variant of the M270 MLRS, to as part of counter-terrorism efforts against jihadist groups in the . The LRU, equipped for guided munitions such as the M31 GMLRS-U, enabled long-range support up to 84 kilometers with 90 kg explosive warheads, targeting insurgent concentrations in remote areas. On March 4, 2016, French forces conducted the system's first operational firing against terrorist positions, demonstrating its utility in providing during patrols and raids. The deployment underscored the M270's adaptability to sparse, low-density environments, where unguided or guided salvos against mobile jihadist minimized casualties due to the region's vast open terrains and limited population centers, though precise strike assessments relied on post-mission rather than real-time verification. French military evaluations post-firing confirmed high satisfaction with the system's accuracy and firepower delivery, attributing effectiveness to integrated fire control and the isolation of combat zones from non-combatants. Logistical constraints emerged as a key limitation in these expeditionary operations; reloading the LRU's two six-rocket pods demanded specialized resupply vehicles traversing extended supply lines across Mali's arid interior, often under threat from improvised explosive devices and ambushes, which restricted salvo frequency compared to conventional theater warfare. Despite these challenges, the LRU's mobility and range contributed to disrupting jihadist mobility without necessitating close ground exposure for supporting infantry.

Russo-Ukrainian War (2022–Present)

In June 2022, the United Kingdom announced the transfer of three M270 MLRS units to Ukraine, followed by Germany's delivery of five systems in July, enabling Ukrainian forces to employ these platforms in counter-battery and logistics interdiction roles amid ongoing attritional fighting. Additional contributions from Norway, in coordination with the UK, and later from France—totaling six LRU variants by early 2024—expanded Ukraine's M270 inventory to support sustained rocket artillery operations against Russian supply lines. Ukrainian M270 units participated in strikes on Russian ammunition depots, contributing to a broader campaign that forced Russian logistics elements to withdraw from forward positions to mitigate vulnerability to precision fires; notable among early MLRS impacts was the July 11, 2022, destruction of a major depot in , which detonated stockpiles and disrupted regional resupply. By mid-2024, Ukrainian technicians modified select M270 launchers to accommodate ATACMS ballistic missiles, facilitating deeper strikes into occupied , including against ammunition storage and air defense nodes that supported Russian operations. At least one M270 was confirmed destroyed on , , likely by a Russian or FPV drone during repositioning, highlighting vulnerabilities to proliferating unmanned threats despite countermeasures. As of 2025, surviving M270 batteries have leveraged NATO-shared for targeting, enabling coordinated deep fires that degrade Russian massed assault formations through preemptive saturation and , thereby sustaining Ukrainian defensive postures in high-intensity sectors.

Combat Effectiveness and Analysis

Proven Tactical Impacts

The M270's full salvo of 12 M26 rockets disperses approximately 7,728 dual-purpose bomblets across a target area of up to 600 square meters, delivering suppressive firepower comparable to dozens of conventional pieces in terms of submunition density and rapid delivery. A single battery volley of 108 such rockets equates to the output of 33 battalions of cannon , enabling quick neutralization of enemy batteries and troop concentrations through area saturation. In the 1991 , over 6,000 rockets were fired, demonstrating this capacity to devastate unarmored targets and light vehicles while supporting armored advances. The system's tracked and "" tactics—firing within seconds and relocating before counter-battery response—minimize exposure in contested environments, allowing sustained operations with low attrition. This mobility has proven effective against radar-directed retaliation, as the M270's emplacement-to-displacement cycle often completes in under 10 minutes, preserving platform survivability amid dense duels. Cluster munitions from the M270 exhibit marked superiority for anti-infantry roles in dispersed or open formations, where submunition scatter creates overlapping lethal zones that exceed single-shell in coverage per launcher. Empirical outcomes in saturation strikes confirm high suppression rates against personnel and soft-skinned assets, even accounting for a 2% rate that leaves residual hazards but does not negate immediate tactical disruption. Precision-guided variants like GMLRS further amplify this by concentrating effects on high-value points, outperforming unguided systems in target destruction per round through reduced dispersion and higher hit probability.

Strategic Contributions to Deterrence

The deployment of upgraded M270A2 systems across NATO's eastern flank, including live-fire exercises in during Saber Guardian 25 on June 15, 2025, demonstrates a tangible commitment to countering Russian aggression by enhancing long-range precision strike capabilities. These platforms, integrated with extended-range munitions, extend NATO's depth into contested areas, complicating adversary maneuver and logistics in potential Euro-Atlantic conflicts. By modernizing existing M270 fleets for allies like and , the system reinforces collective defense postures, signaling resolve without relying solely on airpower, which can be vulnerable to integrated air defenses. Export and licensing of M270 variants to regional partners further amplifies deterrence by balancing power dynamics against proliferators of asymmetric threats. Israel's operation of M270 systems contributes to its layered defense architecture, enabling rapid saturation fires that deter escalation from Iran-backed proxies through demonstrated ability to neutralize launch sites and command nodes. In , South Korea's M270K platforms, derived from the baseline design, support preemptive suppression of North Korean artillery concentrations, preserving civilian centers and allied forces in high-intensity scenarios. This proliferation fosters stability by equipping U.S. partners with interoperable, high-volume that raises the operational costs of aggression for revisionist actors. The M270's economic efficiency as a force multiplier stems from its lower per-target engagement costs compared to sustained air campaigns; each Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) unitary costs approximately $168,000, allowing battalions to deliver precise, massed effects without the logistical overhead of sorties that can exceed millions per mission in fuel, maintenance, and pilot hours. This resource allocation preserves fixed-wing assets for air dominance and suppression of enemy air defenses, enabling ground forces to maintain momentum in peer-level contests while deterring adversaries through credible, scalable firepower projection.

Criticisms and Operational Limitations

The M270's employment of cluster munitions, such as the M26 rocket with M77 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions submunitions, has drawn significant criticism due to high failure rates leaving hazardous . Official U.S. Army estimates cited a 2% rate for M77 bomblets, but post-Gulf War assessments and field reports indicated substantially higher failure rates in combat conditions, with unexploded submunitions causing civilian and military casualties long after engagements. documented instances where cluster duds from U.S. forces in and the Gulf region contributed to deaths and injuries, exacerbating post-conflict hazards. These remnants fueled international advocacy leading to the 2008 (Oslo Convention), ratified by over 100 states and prohibiting production, stockpiling, and use of such weapons; while the U.S. is not a party, the treaty prompted many operators to phase out cluster variants for MLRS rockets. To address these concerns, the U.S. and allies developed unitary warhead alternatives like the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), which concentrate explosive effect without submunitions dispersal. However, this shift reduces effectiveness against dispersed or area targets, such as troop concentrations or vehicle convoys, where cluster munitions provide broader coverage essential for suppressing enemy maneuver in high-intensity conflicts. Military analysts argue that unitary options limit the system's utility in scenarios requiring saturation fire, prioritizing precision over volume at the cost of tactical flexibility against non-point targets. NGOs like maintain that even unitary variants inherit legacy risks from mixed stockpiles, while proponents counter that clusters remain necessary for countering massed threats unachievable with precision strikes alone. In contemporary operations, the M270 exhibits vulnerability to detection and destruction by low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as evidenced in the where Russian drone reconnaissance enabled strikes on Ukrainian-operated systems. Oryx-documented losses include at least one confirmed M270 destroyed near in 2023 via drone-guided munitions, highlighting the platform's challenges in concealing its launch signature despite "" tactics. Prolonged conflicts strain , with the system's reliance on specialized resupply—exacerbated by the tracked chassis's maintenance demands—limiting sustained firing rates in contested environments. Precision-guided munitions like GMLRS further impose economic constraints, with unit costs exceeding $160,000 per rocket in recent fiscal years, dwarfing unguided alternatives and restricting salvo volumes in peer-level engagements. This pricing, driven by guidance systems and production scales, curtails the M270's role as a high-volume area suppressor, favoring selective strikes over the suppressive barrages characteristic of earlier unguided rockets. In extended wars, such as Ukraine's, has forced rationing, underscoring the tension between precision's accuracy and the logistical burden of cost-prohibitive sustainment.

Operators and Global Proliferation

Current Major Operators

The United States Army fields approximately 225 M270A1 launchers undergoing recapitalization to the A2 variant, with deployments concentrated in Europe to support NATO deterrence postures amid heightened tensions with Russia. The operates 61 M270 systems as of mid-2025, with ongoing upgrades to the A2 configuration incorporating improved fire control and features; plans exist to expand the fleet beyond 70 units by decade's end through acquisition of surplus stocks. employs around 40 donated M270 platforms from multiple donors, including systems adapted for ATACMS integration to enable deep strikes; high-intensity operations have imposed significant attrition, straining and amid limited spare parts availability. Israel maintains 48 M270 units, with 30 in active service and 18 in reserve, optimized for rapid deployment in asymmetric threats from non-state actors and neighboring adversaries. deploys 58 M270 launchers as a counter to North Korean massed artillery, integrated into forward defense strategies along the DMZ. operates 41 M270 launchers, primarily M270D1 variants of the M270A1 incorporating the M142 HIMARS Universal Fire Control System, with upgrades to the A2 standard underway to enhance mobility, protection, and fire control capabilities.

Former and Discontinued Users

The retired its M270 MLRS (designated MARS II) fleet, consisting of five systems, by transferring them to in 2022 amid the , marking a doctrinal shift toward more agile wheeled suited to expeditionary and rapid-response operations within frameworks. This move aligned with broader European trends favoring lighter platforms over tracked systems for enhanced deployability, while retaining capabilities for heavy through alternatives like the PULS. Denmark decommissioned its M270 inventory in the early 2000s, driven by adherence to the prohibiting cluster munitions integral to early M270 rocket variants, prompting a reevaluation of area-denial tactics in favor of precision strikes and reduced logistical burdens from banned ordnance. Japan plans to retire its approximately 99 M270 systems by , reflecting a strategic pivot to hypersonic missiles and extended-range precision weapons that prioritize standoff capabilities over massed rocket salvos, amid evolving threats in the theater.

Export and Licensing Details

The M270 MLRS proliferated through U.S. (FMS) under the and select licensing agreements for domestic production, enabling allied nations to integrate the system while limiting full . In , licensed production began in the 1980s through IHI Aerospace (formerly Nissan's aerospace division), supporting the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's acquisition of approximately 99 units. A European consortium similarly handled licensed assembly for , , , and the , facilitating localized manufacturing and maintenance without unrestricted access to proprietary designs. These pathways have resulted in over 1,000 systems supplied to more than 15 countries, emphasizing with U.S. forces via standardized components rather than independent redesign. Recent FMS-related contracts focus on recapitalization for European allies, such as Lockheed Martin's $214 million award in May 2025 to upgrade M270 fleets for (which joined the program in early 2024), , and the , incorporating enhanced armored cabs, common fire control systems, and compatibility with precision munitions while withholding complete technical blueprints to preserve strategic advantages. A separate $451 million U.S. Army contract in 2024 extended similar upgrades, prioritizing allied sustainment over proliferation risks. All transfers comply with (ITAR), codified in 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which classify the M270 as a defense article under the U.S. Munitions List and impose controls on re-export, retransfer, and technical data sharing to prevent unauthorized replication or adaptation. These restrictions have effectively curtailed reverse-engineering attempts by recipients, as evidenced by consistent reliance on U.S.-approved sustainment paths rather than indigenous variants diverging from core architecture.

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