Here’s How the HIMARS M142, America’s Advanced Rocket System, Works

JAKARTA – HIMARS M142 is one of the United States’ advanced rocket or missile launcher systems created by Lockheed Martin.

HIMARS was originally born in the 1980s to meet the Army’s need for a lightweight multiple launch rocket system.

The HIMARS M142 was designed specifically for the US armed forces, combining elements of Lockheed’s M207 MLRS artillery system and BAE Systems’ FMTV truck chassis.

The focus of the development of this new system is to maximize mobility and speed, and so that this latest system can be transported by the C-130 Hercules aircraft.

How the HIMARS M142 Works

Each HIMARS M142 unit can carry six GPS-guided rockets, which can be refueled in about a minute with only a small crew.

The range of this missile system can reach 80 kilometers or almost twice the range of the M777 howitzer. The M142 HIMARS system is a modernized, lighter and more agile wheel-mounted version of the M270 MLRS.

The HIMARS dual-launch system is operated by a crew of three, a commander, a driver, and a gunner. The crew is seated tightly in the vehicle’s cab with the driver on the left and the gunner and section command on the right.

Each crew member has access to the intercom communication system and vehicle controls, allowing effective coordination during operations.

While these systems typically require a crew of three, the computer-based fire control system allows two crew members or even one soldier to load and unload the system.

The fire control module is seamlessly integrated into the cabin, providing the crew with the equipment necessary to operate the system effectively.

The crew operating the HIMARS can reload the rocket system in 4 to 5 minutes with the help of an integrated crane. The missile system will be carried using an MTVR MK 37 resupply truck.