The first HIMARS rocket artillery launchers have already arrived in Poland, with the remaining nine of the contracted twenty scheduled for delivery by year’s end. Photos published on wPolityce.pl show the launchers positioned at Warsaw’s Okęcie Airport, awaiting official clearance before they enter active service.
At noon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak is slated to take part in a ceremony at the 1st Airlift Base in Warsaw to mark the delivery of the initial HIMARS system for the Polish Army.
In 2019, the Ministry of National Defense placed an order for twenty M142 HIMARS multi-guided rocket artillery launchers and related equipment, including two training variants. The contract, valued at USD 414 million, covered GMLRS munitions with a range near 70 kilometers, ATACMS with ranges up to 300 kilometers, and training ammunition (LCRRPR). The package also encompassed command vehicles, technical security vehicles, and logistics, training, and ongoing support.
The entire squadron fire module is being assigned to the 16th Mechanized Division.
READ MORE: Important Information! Deputy Prime Minister Błaszczak: The first HIMARS long-range rocket artillery launchers will be in Poland on May 15! [Source: wPolityce]
Since last year, some elements of the squadron’s equipment have already begun arriving, including technical support vehicles and combat equipment. The ministry emphasized that building the capability to strike targets hundreds of kilometers away will rely not only on purchases of this category of armaments from South Korea but also on additional orders for HIMARS systems. Polish industry will contribute by supplying vehicles ranging from 4×4 to 8×8, unmanned aerial vehicles, and radar systems.
The 2019 order envisions launchers mounted on U.S. Oshkosh trucks, with eventual mounting on Jelcz chassis. This effort will also include Korean M239 Chunmoo launchers and other HIMARS systems that the Ministry plans to acquire. All launchers from the United States and Korea are intended to be integrated with WB Group’s Topaz battle management system in Poland.
The long-range rocket artillery program, part of Poland’s modernization plan, has long been anticipated. Initially expected to be developed domestically or through licensed production, the effort culminated in a 2019 contract for HIMARS delivery.
A year earlier, the Department of National Defense requested bids from the United States for an additional 500 systems, noting that the U.S. military already possessed around 410 of these systems before transferring some to Ukraine. Given the demand from the U.S. and other partners, Poland moved forward with a 218-unit order of Chunmoo launchers from South Korea, valued at about USD 3.55 billion.
In February, U.S. authorities responded to Poland’s proposal process and signaled potential approval for the sale of up to 488 launchers, along with ammo for a 300-kilometer range, testing kits, computing and communications equipment, and integration support.
M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a highly mobile long-range rocket artillery platform developed by Lockheed Martin. Unlike the MLRS system, which is mounted on a tracked chassis, HIMARS rides on a wheeled chassis. HIMARS and MARS were among the weapons systems the West supplied to support Ukraine.
kk/PAP [Source: wPolityce]