Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall team up for another victorious collaboration
The German Armed Forces have taken a significant step towards modernizing their artillery systems, with the potential acquisition of the GMARS rocket launcher. This system, a collaboration between Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, recently underwent a successful test firing at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The GMARS launcher offers several advantages over existing systems and competitors. Its design emphasizes interoperability and compatibility, making it highly compatible with existing NATO and US systems like the M270A2 and HIMARS. It can launch current and future long-range precision rockets and missiles used by these platforms, including GMLRS, ER-GMLRS, ATACMS, and the new PrSM missiles.
One of the key advantages of GMARS is its payload capacity and flexibility. Unlike HIMARS, which uses a single pod carrying 6 rockets, GMARS utilizes two rocket pods, doubling the available payload capacity on a wheeled chassis. This design provides the same munition capacity as the M270 tracked system but with greater mobility.
The mobility and survivability of GMARS are also noteworthy. Based on the Rheinmetall HX heavy-wheeled vehicle platform, GMARS weighs less than 40 tonnes and can reach speeds up to 100 km/h with a road range of around 700 km. Its wheeled design offers enhanced operational mobility compared to tracked M270 systems and a good balance of survivability and versatility on modern battlefields.
European armies are urgently seeking modern artillery systems, and the German Armed Forces could potentially replace another 35 MARS-II rocket launchers with new systems like GMARS in the long run. European construction and modularity make GMARS an attractive option for nations looking to standardize on NATO-compatible systems without relying solely on US-made platforms.
In comparison, Elbit Systems' PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) also offers versatility as a modular and multi-missile launcher. However, GMARS's advantages include closer integration with US and NATO artillery rockets (especially the combat-proven GMLRS and the upcoming PrSM), and its dual-pod configuration that increases rocket payload per launch vehicle. The development of GMARS by a coalition of major European and US defense companies might offer interoperability benefits and logistical streamlining for NATO forces distinct from PULS.
The potential acquisition of GMARS rocket launchers by the German Armed Forces could lead to a contract worth 455 million euros. The system's key advantages are its high interoperability with NATO/US munitions, double pod capacity for more rockets per launcher, wheeled mobility with good speed and range, European construction with modularity for allied integration, and suitability for modern long-range, precision rocket artillery missions.
In other news, subscribing to DER AKTIONÄR allows for immediate implementation of trading recommendations. The first recommendation from DER AKTIONÄR was made in issue 33/22, and the Rheinmetall share has recently seen a gain of 993 percent since that recommendation. A monthly subscription to DER AKTIONÄR is currently available for 19.90 euros for the first 4 issues.
[1] Rheinmetall Press Release [2] Lockheed Martin Press Release [3] Defense News [4] Army-Technology [5] Military Technology
The GMARS rocket launcher's interoperability with existing NATO and US systems like the M270A2 and HIMARS sets it apart, as it can launch current and future long-range precision rockets and missiles used by these platforms, such as GMLRS, ER-GMLRS, ATACMS, and the new PrSM missiles.
European armies, such as the German Armed Forces, may find the mobility and survivability of GMARS appealing, as its wheeled design offers enhanced operational mobility compared to tracked systems and a good balance of survivability and versatility on modern battlefields.
Investors who subscribe to DER AKTIONÄR can potentially benefit from immediate trading recommendations, as a recent recommendation in issue 33/22 resulted in a 993% gain in the Rheinmetall share, one of the companies involved in the development of the GMARS rocket launcher.
