All variants of GMLRS

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it was a year ago

Northrop Grumman Corporation has received a full rate production contract from Lockheed Martin to deliver insensitive munitions (IM) rocket motors for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) program. The motors, which recently completed 100 percent successful flight tests, reflect years of work by Northrop Grumman in support of its long-standing commitment to producing safe and affordable IM rocket motors for the U.S. Army.

The introduction of Northrop Grumman’s GMLRS IM rocket motor upgrades the current GMLRS to include insensitive munitions (IM) technology designed to enhance warfighter safety and limit collateral damage. Northrop Grumman was able to introduce all the safety benefits of IM technology and retain the rocket motor’s performance, without significantly changing the current design of the missile.

 
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Tail controlled GMLRS it's today tests efforts
 
Thought for sure LBASM was based on ATACMs. GMLRS would barely be worth the effort.

 
The 50,000th GMLRS rolled off the industry partner’s production line in Camden, Arkansas in mid-November 2020, marking a historic occasion for the U.S. Army and the field artillery community.

 
The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of a possible $91 million foreign military sale to Finland of the Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER-GMLRS). If the deal goes through, Finland would be the first country besides the U.S. to have this extended-range system.

The Government of Finland has requested to buy 25 M30A2 Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems – Alternative Warhead (ER GMLRS-AW) pods; and 10 M31A2 Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems – Unitary (ER GMLRS-U) pods. Also included is an ER GMLRS Materiel Release Package; Stockpile Reliability Program (SRP) support; Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services; technical publications; U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics support services; and other related element of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $91.2 million.

 

In 2000, Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control division developed a prototype of the R44 missile for high-precision long-range target destruction using MLRS and HIMARS MLRS combat vehicles. To launch this missile, a special container for 10 missiles was developed.

The prototype had the ability to work in the mode of auxiliary inertial guidance with the help of GPS system (for hitting stationary targets) and with a miniature homing head from the program for the JCM (Joint Common Missile).

The design of the prototype included a homing head with three modes of operation: a Doppler radar operating in the millimeter wavelength range for all-weather applications and hitting moving targets, a cooled infrared mode for target detection and classification, and a semi-active laser mode for hitting targets using target designation.

https://en.missilery.info/files/m/s.gurov/USA/P44/1165764.jpg

The company chose a 177 mm starter accelerator to provide speed, with low cost and the possibility of further upgrading. The design of the prototype rocket could include an enlarged Hellfire II rocket head or a cumulative head with a forming device. A certain development potential was created in the direction of increasing the length and weight of the missile.

According to the electronic database of Jane's Defence Weekly, dated 16 March 2007, it is indicated that, following wind tunnel tests and static burning of rocket engines, the R44 ballistic experimental missile successfully completed a flight test at the White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico) on 15 February.

May 4, 2007 Jane's Missiles and Rockets magazine reported on the second successful flight test of the prototype.
 
 
AFAIK the G-SMArt proposal was also mainly targeted at the US, the Bundeswehr never seemed that interested.
It is mentioned on this German website though.


Currently, the two GMLRS variants UNITARY (warhead) and SMArt (search fuse ammunition artillery) can be fired from the EFCS fire control system of the MARS II/MLRS-E - in addition to the unguided missiles. Other GMLRS ammunition types are under development.
 
AFAIK the G-SMArt proposal was also mainly targeted at the US, the Bundeswehr never seemed that interested.
It is mentioned on this German website though.


Currently, the two GMLRS variants UNITARY (warhead) and SMArt (search fuse ammunition artillery) can be fired from the EFCS fire control system of the MARS II/MLRS-E - in addition to the unguided missiles. Other GMLRS ammunition types are under development.
i would guess thats because Diehl together with KMW modernized the MARS for the Bundeswehr and Diehl was responsible for ammunition integration. The Bundeswehr only uses unitary GMLRS and the unguided AT2 dispenser.
 
Isn't there a Mk-II version in the works where the missile uses tail fins for control instead of draggy canards?
 
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cchHPToT2RU

DALLAS, Sept. 01, 2023 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) successfully demonstrated its next-generation Extended-Range GMLRS (ER GMLRS) in a flight test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, firing the round from the U.S. Army’s HIMARS® launcher.

"This test demonstrates nearly double the range, while maintaining the precision GMLRS is known for,” said Jay Price, vice president of Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Lockheed Martin is committed to advancing this critical capability on a rapid timeline for our Army customer, and this test moves ER GMLRS one step closer to fielding.”

ER GMLRS met success criteria in the first 150-kilometer test for flight trajectory, extended range and accuracy from launch to impact. The product also successfully integrated with HIMARS and achieved overall missile performance.

Prior to launch, the rocket pod underwent Stockpile to Target Sequence (STS) testing. This effort simulates cumulative effects ER GMLRS will meet in the field between factory and launch for the life of the system and demonstrates durability of the missile and launch pod container.
 
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Defense Updates has just put out a video concerning the HIMARS equipped with the ER-GMRLS:


HIMARS is getting closer to getting another ammunition that is expected to significantly enhance its lethality.Extended Range or ER-GMLRS test has been conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.A HIMARS was used to fire the rocket which flew to its maximum range of 93 miles. This is the first time a flight trajectory this long was achieved with this rocket.
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes how HIMARS will become even more potent with ER-GMLRS ?
 
SMART in GMLRS is a real flashback to when SADARM was planned as an MLRS payload.

The big problem is that it doesn't pack well -- a roughly 155mm submunition in a 227mm or 254mm rocket still only packs one across. I'd be really tempted to rework the EFP into at least a larger diameter or maybe multiple projectiles to overwhelm future active defenses. But that all costs money.
 

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