High Mobility Artillery Rocket System:
The military of Taiwan recently conducted its first live-firing of the American-supplied high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS).
- It is a lightweight, multiple rocket launcher.
- It allows for the launching of multiple, precision-guided rockets.
- It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, a United States-based security and aerospace company.
- HIMARS is intended to engage and defeat artillery, air defence concentrations, trucks, light armour, and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations.
- It is an air-transportable wheeled launcher mounted on a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
- It can carry either a launcher pod of six rockets (range of approximately 43 miles) or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which can hit targets up to 200 miles away.
- The HIMARS requires less than 20 seconds to be prepared for firing, and a full launcher load of six rockets can be fired within 45 seconds.
- The system launches its weapons and moves away from the area at high speed before enemy forces locate the launch site.
- The HIMARS is equipped with the Increased Crew Protection cabin, which is designed to protect the three-man operating crew against plume gases, rocket launch debris, and small arms.
