Lockheed-Martin wins HIMARS production contract

On 28 December the US Army awarded Lockeed-Martin a $267 M contract for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) full rate production. HIMARS is the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) on a wheeled platform. Further details are available at Defenselink.mil.  They were also given a similar contract for Guided MLRS at the same time.  So the Army is still investing in new artillery fire systems.

Very little artillery has been used in Iraq or Afghanistan as they preferred fire support system is aircraft. Also many of the artillery troops find themselves pulling security missions. Much like the English in Northern Ireland, the US Army has been using his support units as basic light infantry. In fact, the Air Force has been doing these kind of missions as well, to the point where the Chief of Staff has whined quite a bit about it. See Stars and Stripes: Airman taking on more dangerous roles in Iraq.