The US Army has awarded a $52-million contract to Lockheed Martin to support the maintenance, operation, and configuration of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, along with storage and distribution of repair parts.
The project will be carried out in Grand Prairie, Texas, with work projected to conclude by May 14, 2031.
HIMARS and MLRS form the backbone of the Army’s Long-Range Precision Fires modernization strategy and are compatible with next-generation weapons such as the Precision Strike Missile, which is being integrated into both launch platforms.
Although both launchers fire the same munitions—including the GMLRS rocket family and its extended-range variants—they differ in mobility and battlefield roles. HIMARS is wheeled, rapidly deployable, and capable of air transport, ideal for expeditionary missions and constrained environments. By contrast, the tracked, armored MLRS is heavier and tailored for sustained high-intensity combat operations.
The exceptional combat performance of HIMARS in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific theater has driven strong international interest. Countries such as Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and Estonia have placed orders for the system this year.
