Since last summer, the United States has been providing the Ukrainian armed forces with launchers for GMLRS missiles, as well as the army’s highly mobile missile system. At the same time, the Pentagon never disclosed the exact number of GMLRS missiles sent by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
As before Wrote “socialbites.ca”The GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) family of 227 mm rockets currently consists of two samples – M30 and M31.
The M30 destroys unprotected and lightly armored targets when there is no precise data on their coordinates. The M31 missile, on the other hand, is designed to accurately hit fixed targets at previously discovered coordinates. Each model has its modifications. For M30 these are M30A1 and M30A2, for M31 – M31A1 and M31A2.
The M30A1 uses an alternative warhead instead of the cluster warhead. It comes with 80,000 tungsten carbide balls. The application range is from 15 to 84 km. Circular possible deviation – 7 meters. The M30A2 modification differs from the A1 only in the engine.
The M31 rocket projectile is a derivative of the M30 with a unitary high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 90 kg. The range of this RS is the same.
Circular possible deviation – 7 meters. The M31 product has two modifications – M31A1 and M31A2. The M31A1 is an improved version of the M31 and the M31A2 is equipped with a different engine.
The US Army plans to increase production of GMLRS missiles from 6,000 to 14,000 units per year and, thanks to new powers from the US Congress, plans to sign a multi-year agreement with Lockheed Martin in fiscal 2024.
According to the latter, the Pentagon was given the opportunity to conclude multi-year contracts for the purchase and supply of “high priority” missiles and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Among other things, long-term contracts, often for expensive and large programs for the supply of weapons and military equipment, can significantly reduce the cost of a certain type of weapons and military equipment.
Work on the Lockheed Martin contract, announced this week, should be completed by October 30, 2026, according to a Pentagon announcement.
Jay Price, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control Division, said the company is “working closely with U.S. Army customers and collaborative partners, who are moving at unprecedented speed to increase production capacity to meet critical needs in this highly effective weapon.”
“The GMLRS is a reliable, battle-tested missile,” added Jay Price.
As before Wrote “socialbites.ca”In the upcoming offensive operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in many respects they rely on the intensive use of high-precision weapons. There is every reason to believe that the Ukrainian Armed Forces stockpiles a large number of JDAM-ER (Extended Range) planning bombs, ground-launched small-bore bombs (GLSDB) and ammunition for the M142 to implement such plans. HIMARS and M270 MRLS combat vehicles with and containing only GMLRS type missiles.
And Lockheed Martin is not going to stop there by any means. In addition to increasing the production of the GMLRS, the company is also working intensively on an extended-range version of the missile (ER GMLRS).
Also, Lockheed Martin hopes that in 2024 the US Army will decide whether to put an extended-range version of the missile into production. The company believes that the new GMLRS missile with an increased firing range (more than 150 km) will hit the enemy with the same reliability and accuracy.
Lockheed Martin has already produced more than 50,000 GMLRS and has been contracted to supply more than 1,800 low-cost, reduced-range training missiles to both the US Army and foreign customers, along with an additional 9,000 GMLRS with unitary and alternative warheads.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine seem to hope that the GMLRS missiles will be the magic wand with which the Ukrainian army will solve most of the combat and operational tasks.