Lockheed Martin will ramp up production of M142 HIMARS following successful use of missile systems in Ukraine

The M142 HIMARS highly mobile artillery systems have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have used them to successfully destroy dozens of Russian military bases and ammunition depots. This has led to an increased demand for HIMARS from other states.

Here's What We Know

Ukraine received its first M142 HIMARS artillery systems in early summer 2022. In total, the United States has provided around two dozen missile systems with high-precision GMLRS rockets, which can hit targets at a distance of around 80km.

Lockheed Martin's plant in Camden, Arkansas, is preparing to increase production of HIMARS. The company has invested just over 26,000 square metres (282,000 sq ft) in the facility for a year, so it should have no trouble ramping up production of the missile systems. But the factory still needs to undergo a bit of modernisation.

Lockheed Martin entered 2022 with a schedule of 48 M142 HIMARS high-mobility missile systems a year, but over time has reached a level of 60 units. By the next few years, the company wants to produce 96 HIMARS complexes annually.

Source: Reuters