Germany has introduced a new generation of wheeled multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) known as GMARS (Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System), developed jointly by Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin. Designed to bridge the gap between mobility and heavy firepower, GMARS significantly expands on the capabilities of the U.S. M142 HIMARS by doubling its launcher pod capacity while retaining compatibility with NATO-standard munitions.
GMARS Origins: Bridging Capability Gaps in European MLRS
The GMARS program emerged from Germany’s strategic need to modernize its long-range fires capability amid growing security concerns in Europe. With the Cold War-era M270 tracked launchers aging and limited in number—and the U.S. prioritizing HIMARS production for Ukraine and Taiwan—Berlin sought a mobile yet heavily armed alternative tailored to European terrain and logistics.
In June 2023, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-develop a new wheeled MLRS platform capable of firing GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) and ATACMS missiles. By September 2024, Rheinmetall revealed early prototypes of GMARS based on an 8×8 HX truck chassis at its Unterlüß facility.
The program aligns with Germany’s Zeitenwende defense shift and leverages both domestic industrial capacity and American munitions expertise. It also supports NATO’s push for interoperable long-range fires under the Allied Ground Fires Capability initiative.
Design Features: Wheeled Mobility Meets Heavy Payload
The most striking feature of GMARS is its dual-pod launcher configuration—allowing it to carry two standard MLRS pods versus one on HIMARS. This gives it parity with the tracked M270A2 in terms of salvo volume while offering superior road mobility.
- Chassis: Based on Rheinmetall’s HX3 8×8 truck platform with armored cab options.
- Launcher: Twin-pod system compatible with existing GMLRS/ER GMLRS/ATACMS pods; future compatibility with Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) planned.
- Crew: Likely operated by a three-person crew; automation may reduce this over time.
- C4ISR: Expected integration with NATO-standard fire control systems including ADLER III or equivalent digital FCS.
This design enables rapid shoot-and-scoot tactics while maintaining high-volume fires—critical for survivability against counter-battery threats such as Russian Lancet drones or loitering munitions.
Ammunition Compatibility and Future Growth
GMARS is fully compatible with existing U.S.-developed munitions used in HIMARS/M270 systems:
- M31A1/A2 GMLRS Unitary: GPS-guided rockets with ~70–84 km range.
- M30A1 GMLRS-AW: Area warhead variant for soft targets over wide zones.
- M48/M57 ATACMS: Tactical ballistic missiles up to ~300 km range (pending export clearance).
The system is also expected to support future PrSM rounds once they enter full-rate production post-2025. PrSM offers ranges exceeding 500 km under INF Treaty constraints no longer binding since U.S. withdrawal in 2019—a major leap in deep-strike capability for Europe-based forces.
NATO Interoperability and Strategic Impact
The introduction of GMARS bolsters NATO’s long-range fires architecture at a time when Russia continues mass artillery use in Ukraine. Unlike tracked platforms like M270 which require heavy transporters for strategic mobility, GMARS can self-deploy across road networks—ideal for rapid repositioning across Central Europe or Baltic corridors.
This mobility also supports prepositioning strategies under NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) framework. With Poland acquiring nearly 500 HIMARS-equivalent launchers (including K239 Chunmoo), Germany’s adoption of a high-capacity wheeled solution ensures complementary coverage without duplication.
Production Plans and Export Potential
The German Ministry of Defence has not yet announced firm procurement numbers but has indicated intent to field an initial batch by late 2025 or early 2026 as part of Bundeswehr modernization efforts funded through the €100 billion special defense fund (Sondervermögen). Rheinmetall is expected to lead local production at its Kassel or Unterlüß facilities using modular assembly lines similar to those used for Boxer IFVs and Skynex air defense systems.
The joint venture structure also positions GMARS well for export across Europe where many allies are seeking alternatives to limited U.S. deliveries or South Korean systems like Chunmoo/K239. Romania, Czech Republic, Norway, and Sweden have all expressed interest in wheeled MLRS platforms compatible with NATO ammunition stockpiles.
A Complementary—not Competing—System to HIMARS
While comparisons between GMARS and HIMARS are inevitable due to their shared munitions ecosystem, they serve different operational needs:
- HIMARS: Lightweight (~16 tonnes), C-130 transportable; ideal for expeditionary forces like USMC or airborne units.
- M270A1/A2: Tracked heavy launcher (~25 tonnes); high firepower but limited road mobility without transporters.
- GMARS: Wheeled heavy launcher (~30 tonnes est.) combining dual-pod firepower with self-deploying road mobility; optimized for European theater operations.
The Road Ahead: Testing & Fielding Timeline
An initial test campaign is expected throughout late 2024 into mid-2025 at WTD testing ranges in Meppen or Baumholder under Bundeswehr oversight. Live-fire trials will likely include both unitary GMLRS salvos and ATACMS launches if export approvals are granted by Washington—a process that may be streamlined given Lockheed Martin’s co-development role.
If successful, full-rate production could begin by Q1/Q2 2026 depending on budget cycles within Germany’s Bundestag defense committee approvals process. Integration into multinational exercises such as Defender Europe or Allied Spirit would mark key milestones toward operational readiness within NATO formations by late decade.
