Lockheed Martin may receive $179m to produce 28 M142 HIMARS missile systems

We have already written about the US Department of Defence requesting $170bn for munitions and equipment production. Among other things, Lockheed Martin may receive nearly $200 million to produce additional M142 HIMARS high-mobility artillery rocket systems.

Here's What We Know

Bloomberg reporters have managed to get their hands on Pentagon documents. They will be officially released next Monday as part of the fiscal 2024 budget request disclosure. If Congress agrees, the Defense Department will receive $8 billion more money than in the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

The Pentagon will request $179 million to buy 28 additional M142 HIMARS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It previously announced plans to ramp up production of the missile systems at its Arkansas facility.

The M142 HIMARS surged in popularity in 2022 amid successful use of the weapon by the Ukrainian military. Lockheed Martin gained new customers in Europe and beyond, including Poland, Australia and the Baltic states. Although in fairness it should be noted that Australia started talks to buy M142s long before they entered Ukraine's arsenal.

Source: Bloomberg