MLRS was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March/April 2003. The US Army fielded the upgraded M270A1 launchers and the new ATACMS Quick Reaction Unitary missile.

The MLRS launcher unit comprises an M270 Launcher loaded with 12 rockets, packaged in two six-rocket pods. The launcher, which is mounted on a stretched Bradley chassis, is a highly automated self-loading and self-aiming system. It contains a fire control computer that integrates the vehicle and rocket launching operations.

The rockets can be fired individually or in ripples of two to twelve. Accuracy is maintained in all firing modes because the computer re-aims the launcher between rounds.

The MLRS can be readily transported to the area of operations, for example by the C-5 transporter aircraft or by train. MLRS has excellent cross-country mobility, and a road speed of 64km/h.

Other mission-oriented rockets include the Extended-Range (ER) rocket, the Reduced-Range Practice Rocket (RRPR) with a range of 8km to 15km and the AT2, which dispenses 28 antitank mines per round. The Extended Range rocket, first fielded in 1998, carries 518 improved munitions in excess of 45km.

Lockheed Martin developed a new extended range guided rocket GMLRS which has a range of more than 70km. The GMLRS XM30 rocket has a GPS (Global Positioning System) and inertial guidance package and small canards on the rocket nose to enhance accuracy. GMLRS completed System Development and Demonstration (SDD) tests in December 2002 and entered low-rate initial production in April 2003. 156 GMLRS rockets were produced under the LRIP I contract (deliveries completed May 2005), 840 under the LRIP II (awarded in March 2004) and 1,014 under LRIP III (awarded February 2005). Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is planned for 2006, but the system has been operationally deployed since September 2005 in Iraq. The GMLRS is an international programme involving UK, Italy, France and Germany as well as the US. The industrial team includes Diehl, MBDA and FiatAvio.

In August 2005, the UK placed a contract for GMLRS, becoming the first international customer. GMLRS will enter service with the UK Army in 2007.

First deliveries of a unitary variant of GMLRS, with a single 81.6kg (180lb) warhead and a range of up to 70km were in May 2005. In October 2003, Lockheed Martin was awarded an SDD contract for 86 unitary variant rockets, to last until 2007. The program is being accelerated following a US Army Urgent Need statement and, in August 2005, the unitary variant began field testing in Iraq.

The programme to develop the Block II missile, with GPS and 13 BAT (Brilliant Anti-Tank) submissiles, and Block IIA missile, with six improved BAT submissiles, was cancelled in February 2003.The BAT submunition, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, is an unpowered glider which has acoustic sensors for target detection and infrared sensors for terminal guidance. Maximum range is 140km.

The fire control computer allows firing missions to be carried out either manually or automatically. In a typical fire mission, a command post transmits the selected target data directly to the MLRS computer. The computer aims the launcher and prompts the crew to arm and fire a pre-selected number of rounds. Multiple mission sequences can be preprogrammed and stored in the computer.

The IFCS provides additional capacity to accommodate complex munitions and modern computer electronics, including video display, onboard navigation with global positioning system, architecture for ultrafast signal processing and advanced mission software. ILMS reduces the time to aim the launcher to 16 seconds (compared to 93 seconds). The reloading time is cut from four to three minutes. UK systems are also to receive the IFCS. The first 15 systems for the UK were ordered in March 2005 for delivery by the end of 2006. Italian, German and French MLRS systems will have the European Fire Control Systems (EFCS), being developed by EADS/Dornier.

Has folowing part: Part Amount HMPT-500HP (Transmission) 1 MCTX4064 (Transmission) 1

MLRS M270 Quantities: Country Quantity BAHREIN 9 EGIPT 26 ISRAEL 48 ITALY 22 KOREA 58 NORWAY 12 THE NETHERLANDS 22 UNITED KINGDOM 63 USA 800 Total: 1060