NEWS – Taiwan’s military recently conducted its first live-fire exercise using the American-supplied HIMARS system.

ABOUT HIMARS

Overview

• HIMARS stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.
• It is a lightweight, multiple rocket launcher system.
• Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, USA.

Purpose

• Designed to launch multiple precision-guided rockets.
• Capable of engaging and defeating:
  • Artillery and air defence systems
  • Trucks and light armoured vehicles
  • Personnel carriers
  • Troop and supply concentrations

Features of HIMARS

Mobility and Transport

• Mounted on a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
• Air-transportable, enhancing rapid deployment capabilities.

Firepower

• Configurable to carry:
  • One launcher pod of six rockets (range ~43 miles/70 km)
  • Or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) (range up to 200 miles/322 km)
• Capable of launching all six rockets in under 45 seconds.
• Can be prepared to fire in less than 20 seconds.

Tactical Advantage

• Designed for shoot-and-scoot operations: launches missiles and quickly relocates to avoid enemy retaliation.

Crew Protection

• Equipped with an Increased Crew Protection cabin.
• Shields the three-man crew from:
  • Rocket launch debris
  • Plume gases
  • Small arms fire