The United States has unveiled a "revolutionary" upgrade for the M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, aimed at boosting its effectiveness in direct fire support. But the end result looks remarkably similar to the Soviet BM-21 "Grad".
According to DEVCOM AvMC, the package is called Direct Support Fires Technology (DSFT) and features 30 120mm rockets instead of the usual six GMLRS rounds. This allows for a large area to be saturated with fire in a single strike.
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U.S. officials emphasize the low cost of this solution and the potential for mass production of ammunition. In addition to high-explosive fragmentation rockets, the DSFT package can also fire illumination and smoke rounds.
In essence, the U.S. has reinvented the Soviet 122mm BM-21 "Grad" — a system widely used by Ukraine, russia, and dozens of other countries, since how cheap it is. Grad has long been valued for its ability to deliver affordable, area-saturation fire at ranges of 20–40 km depending on the munition type.
This demonstrates a global demand for such weapons. The DSFT can be mounted on any compatible launcher, including the M270, Mars II, and upcoming AML systems.
While no official range specifications have been released, past U.S. Army requirements called for up to 30 rockets per pack with ranges of 18–25 miles (30–40 km) — essentially matching the performance of modern Grad munitions.
However, launchers in this category have increasingly become prime targets for attack drones dominating today's battlefield. As a result, anti-drone cages and protective structures of various shapes have already begun appearing on such systems.
Compared to the Soviet design, the American DSFT benefits from modern fire control systems, automation, and rapid reloading. While some upgraded Grad launchers now feature similar improvements, they still lag behind HIMARS in capability.
Although this U.S. development may seem like a step back to the early Cold War era, in practice it fills an important niche — delivering more firepower where pinpoint GMLRS accuracy is not required.
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