Due to the significant consumption of missiles and the increase in the number of HIMARS operators, Lockheed Martin is also increasing production of GMLRS missiles, which can hit targets at ranges of up to 80 km. Currently, production has reached 14,000 rockets per year. This is approximately 1,166 rockets per month, or 38 rockets per day, which also means slightly more than six ready-to-fire salvos for a HIMARS launcher.
These figures were announced by Paula Hartley, Vice President of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin, as reported by Hartpunkt, which was present at her press conference at the LANDEURO exhibition in Wiesbaden, Germany. From Defense Express we can add that this production rate is in line with Lockheed Martin's plans, which were announced in early 2024.
Read more: Lockheed Martin Plans to Boost Patriot Missile Production to 750 per Year, But It Needs Help from All Over Europe
This is an adjusted figure, since the planned production rate was supposed to be reached in 2023. In 2023, 10,000 GMLRS were produced annually, making the 40% growth over two years quite substantial.
This still cannot cover Ukraine's rate of GMLRS consumption, as the Armed Forces of Ukraine have up to 38 HIMARS and up to 16 M270 launchers at their disposal. This means their total salvo can reach up to 420 units, compared to Lockheed Martin's already accelerated production rate of 38 GMLRS rockets per day.
That is why the American defense giant is looking for options to localize GMLRS production in Europe. It is currently being decided whether the German company Rheinmetall will produce components, such as solid-fuel boosters, or the entire rocket. At the same time, such cooperation may not be limited to GMLRS. The GMLRS-ER, with a range of up to 150 km, and the PrSM, whose initial version has a range of 500 km, are both already in production.
Lockheed Martin is partnering with Rheinmetall to promote GMARS, a HIMARS variant with two pods on Rheinmetall's HX chassis, targeting the European market.
Although GMARS is set to integrate not only GMLRS, GMLRS-ER, and PrSM but also the AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile, no buyers have been found for the system yet. Moreover, even Germany has chosen PULS from Israel.
The situation may change, as Lockheed Martin has announced that negotiations are currently underway with five potential customers. Paula Hartley did not disclose the countries involved.
Read more: Ukraine to Receive Third SAMP/T Battery in October, But Will There Be Enough Missiles to Use It?
