The Rheinmetall-Lockheed Martin GMARS mobile rocket system on display at Eurosatory 2024 in Paris. (Christina Mackenzie / Breaking Defense)
EUROSATORY 2024 — The US-German team of defense giants Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall today unveiled the duo’s new Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS), product of a year-long partnership on the project
Rheinmetall chairman Armin Papperger said at the unveiling here at Eurosatory it was “only natural” to pair a Rheinmetall chassis, the HX 8×8, with Lockheed Martin’s launcher-loader component integrated onto the back of the truck. Papperger said he is “in discussion” with “four or five potential European customers” for the system, but did not name them.
Lockheed Martin’s vice president for missiles and fire control, Paula Hartley, said the system “expands interoperability” given that more than 20 European nations already use the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family of munitions.
“These are combat-proven systems,” she noted, adding that Lockheed Martin is producing annually between 10,000 and14,000 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) largely for use by the Ukrainian army.
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The GMARS multiple rocket launcher is a two-pod system designed to replace Germany’s MARS 2 system. Rheinmetall and Lockheed joined forces on the project in 2023 to develop the system “as a solution for the growing demand for long-range rocket artillery,” according to Rheinmetall’s website. The German company says GMARS is capable of firing several munitions that have come into popular vocabulary for their use in Ukraine, from GMLRS to Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). GMARS also capable of firing the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) long-range rocket, which is under development by Lockheed with the US Army.
The GMARS unveiling comes days after Rheinmetall and Lockheed signed a new collaboration memorandum that specifically alluded to cooperation on rocket artillery systems, laser weapon systems, simulation and training for land vehicles and helicopters, short-range air defense (SHORAD)” among other areas.
Dennis Goege, vice president for Central and Eastern Europe at Lockheed Martin, said at the signing on June 6 that the agreement was a “further step” in the partnership based in part on the joint GMARS development.
