In the United States, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, based at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, has awarded Lockheed Martin Corporation a contract worth $214.36 million for the upgrade of the multiple launch system (MLRS) to the M270A2 configuration.
The work of this contract will be executed in Grand Prairie in Texas, Camden in Arkansas, and New Boston in Texas, with an estimated completion date of December 30, 2030.
The contract beyond the US Army involves foreign military sales (FMS) in favor of Finland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The Updating Program of Italian MLRS
The updating program of Italian MLRS officially started in April 2023 with the assignment of the related contract worth $194 million from the US Department of Defense; in this contract, the M270 of the British Army were also included.
For the Italian Army, it means upgrading to the A2 standard 21 of the 22 specimens originally received from the United States in the early Nineties of the last century, replacing the M110A2 self-propelled heavy artillery and Lance short-range ballistic missiles.
The M270A2, unlike previous versions M270 and M270A1, can use the Guided MLRS Extended Range (GMLRS-ER) with a range of 150 km and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) with a range exceeding 499 km.
In fact, the new version of the M270 can launch up to 12 GMLRS/GMLRS ER, 4 Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), or two Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS).
Characteristics of the M270A2
Compared to the previous versions, the MLRS M270A2 are equipped with a new 600 horsepower engine with updated and refurbished transmission, an improved armored cabin (IAC) also for IED (improvised explosive device) protection, a CFCS (Common Fire Control System) that allows the use of GMLRS, GMLRS ER, and PrSM, and improved system components.
The improved MLRS M270A2 rocket launcher can engage and reposition at high speed, dramatically reducing an adversary’s ability to locate the system and be engaged by counter-battery fire.
In the Italian Army, the M270A2 will be supported by the M142 HIMARS which use the same ammunition (GMLRS, GMLRS-ER, PrSM, and ATACMS if desired), which will be acquired in 18 units, forming a second heavy artillery unit on multiple rocket launchers.
Source US Department of Defense
Photo credit @Lockheed Martin
