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US Army seeks 133,000 GMLRS rockets by 2034
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The U.S. Army issued a Sources Sought notice requesting manufacturing of 133,014 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets by 2034. The plan requires production of 19,002 rockets per year from 2028 to 2034, with first deliveries in February 2030. Current manufacturer Lockheed Martin has capacity for 14,000 rockets annually, meaning a 36% increase is needed. The rockets include unitary, alternative warhead, and extended-range variants. The request comes amid depleted U.S. stockpiles due to deliveries to Ukraine and conflict with Iran, compounded by a shortage of solid rocket motors. GMLRS rockets, launched from M270 and HIMARS systems, have been critical in Ukraine's defense against Russia, though Russian GPS jamming has reduced effectiveness.
Source report
Amid ongoing concerns over munitions stockpiles, the U.S. Army has issued a call to significantly ramp up production of ground-launched rockets.
The service released a Sources Sought notice this week requesting the manufacture of 133,014 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets by 2034. Contractors have until September 1 to submit white papers outlining their plans to meet the quota.
Production Timeline and Requirements
The proposed schedule calls for producing 19,002 rockets per year from 2028 to 2034, with initial deliveries beginning in February 2030.
According to the notice:
"The scope of the contract includes production, tooling, engineering change proposals, and supporting activities of GMLRS rockets including unitary, alternative warhead (AW), and extended range (ER) rockets."
Current GMLRS manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced last year that it is expanding production capacity to 14,000 rockets annually. The Army's new plan would require a nearly 36% increase in capacity beyond that level.
The Army noted that submissions "must outline the most efficient and cost-effective methods for achieving this production rate." Previous Army efforts to boost U.S. munitions production have encountered setbacks, including a facility intended to manufacture components for 155mm shells that failed to produce any parts.
System Capabilities
GMLRS rockets are launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System armored vehicle and can also be fired from the smaller, truck-mounted M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
- Base version range: 70 kilometers
- Extended-range version range: Up to 150 kilometers
Stockpile and Demand Concerns
Lockheed Martin had delivered 75,000 GMLRS rockets to the U.S. Army by 2024, but demand continues to outpace supply.
Originally designed as Cold War weapons to deliver massive firepower against a hypothetical Soviet attack on Europe, U.S. multiple rocket launchers have become pivotal in the war in Ukraine. The M270, HIMARS, and their GMLRS rockets have been instrumental in enabling Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion, devastating targets such as command posts, supply depots, and troop formations.
Ukraine used HIMARS to strike a power plant inside Russia last September. However, heavy Russian jamming of the rockets' GPS guidance system eventually compromised some effectiveness.
Between deliveries to Ukraine and a protracted conflict with Iran, U.S. stockpiles of GMLRS and other guided munitions have been depleted. Replenishment efforts have been further complicated by a shortage of rocket motors.
About the Author
Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. Email: mikedefense1@gmail.com
Source
Military TimesWestern
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US Army Seeks 133,000 GMLRS Rockets by 2034 to Replenish Depleted Stockpiles