Canada seeks to buy Long Range Precision Rockets (probably US MLRS or HIMARS)

[Kirkhill]

Aussies get their 2nd batch of HIMARS two years early.

Australia Gets Second HIMARS Batch Two Years Early, Only Non-U.S. GMLRS Maker Eyes 1,000km Strike Range | Defense Express

Delivery arrives 18 months after first batch as Canberra already test-fired locally assembled GMLRS and participates in PrSM program, with 42 launchers on order

en.defence-ua.com

Competition is good for the sole. Amazing what you can do when you try.

See also this article (double post)

Australia Unveils BladeHAUL UGV with a 10-Ton Payload Capacity While Ukraine Actively Uses 1.5-Ton Capable Protector UGV for Combat Logistic Supply | Defense Express

While Ukraine is already actively operating the Protector heavy unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) by Ukrainian Armor—capable of carrying a payload of up to 1.5 tons—Australia has gone a step further by unveiling the new, BladeHAUL XL-UGV, which can transport up to 10 tons of cargo

en.defence-ua.com

 

[Kirkhill]

Castelion fires Blackbeard hypersonic missile from truck launcher

Castelion has released an image of its Blackbeard hypersonic missile launching from a truck-mounted system being developed for the U.S. Army.

interestingengineering.com

800 km Mach 5 (3600 km/h) 10 to 15 minutes to target - 95 kg payload enhanced by missile mass and velocity.

Autonomous targeting of moving objects

Blackbeard 'Cheap' Hypersonic Strike Missile Being Developed For U.S. Army (Updated)

Blackbeard could give the Army a way to quickly strike dynamic targets hundreds of miles away, and also shake its acquisition processes.

www.twz.com

 

[FJAG]

Aussies get their 2nd batch of HIMARS two years early.

Every time I look at an M142 HIMARS, I say to myself - this thing is built on an M1140 FMTV truck body. Why don't they build a camouflage frame around the launcher to make it look like just another three axle M1083 cargo truck?

Anyway. Good on ya's Aussies.

 

[Troopasaurus]

Poland considering selling their HIMARS due to concerns of missile stockpiles and local production. Quite the change from a framework to purchase 486 launchers in 2023.

Poland Considers Selling Its 20 M142 HIMARS Systems in Favor of the Homar-K—a Move With Significant Implications for Europian Countries As Well | Defense Express

An overview of the history of Poland-US cooperation regarding the M142 HIMARS, the reasons why the K239 Chunmoo (designated Homar-K) appears more attractive in this context, and the important trend this signals—including for Ukraine

en.defence-ua.com

 

[GR66]

Poland considering selling their HIMARS due to concerns of missile stockpiles and local production. Quite the change from a framework to purchase 486 launchers in 2023.

Poland Considers Selling Its 20 M142 HIMARS Systems in Favor of the Homar-K—a Move With Significant Implications for Europian Countries As Well | Defense Express

An overview of the history of Poland-US cooperation regarding the M142 HIMARS, the reasons why the K239 Chunmoo (designated Homar-K) appears more attractive in this context, and the important trend this signals—including for Ukraine

en.defence-ua.com

While I share the same concerns as Poland with regard to US munitions supplies I think this could actually be a good opportunity for Canada. We could almost double our HIMARS fleet and dedicate these to coastal defence with the ability to deploy anywhere along our coast due to being C-130 transportable. The US may be more willing to allow Canada to have access to longer range PrSM's...in particular anti-ship capable missiles as they directly contribute to the defence of North America.

We could then work with SK to have domestic production of Chunmoo systems (and their ammunition) for 1 Division. Chunmoo have two vs one launch pod so we'd effectively be doubling our fires capacity over HIMARS

 

[Kirkhill]

Here is the other confounding factor:

The US Army is pursuing the autonomous CAML program as a replacement for all of the HIMARS, Typhon/Mk70 PLS, Patriot and NASAMs launchers.

And none of the winners will be sole sourced.

That presents some interesting re-ordering of incentives and disincentives to the production of HIMARS.

By the time we get them they will likely be obsolete, unless we have an upgrade plan built in.

Army looks to add third CAML system, Lozano says - Breaking Defense

A request for information will be coming out in the near future, and the service is looking to make some “early selections” in the March to April timeframe for the CAML-light, Lt. Gen. Frank Lozano, PAE for Fires, said.

breakingdefense.com

....

and the light variant, JLTV with a six-pack, is back on the board for the Aussies.

 

[Rainbow1910]

We could then work with SK to have domestic production of Chunmoo systems (and their ammunition) for 1 Division. Chunmoo have two vs one launch pod so we'd effectively be doubling our fires capacity over HIMARS

Lockheed Martin is actively developing HIMARS FLEX which incorporates two launch pods onto the current HIMARS platform, so Chunmoo doesn't retain that advantage once this upgrade makes the field. It will also remain C-130 transportable in this configuration, while also having a number of other munition types available too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2108543004990443852

 

[dapaterson]

Lockheed Martin is actively developing HIMARS FLEX which incorporates two launch pods onto the current HIMARS platform, so Chunmoo doesn't retain that advantage once this upgrade makes the field. It will also remain C-130 transportable in this configuration, while also having a number of other munition types available too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2108543004990443852

The word "available" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there... Poland's problem is apparently with the availability of ammunition. Saying "We'll sell it to you" is markedly different from "We actually have it in stock or have an adequate supply chain and manufacturing to produce it at the rates required by our clients".

 

[Furniture]

The word "available" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there... Poland's problem is apparently with the availability of ammunition. Saying "We'll sell it to you" is markedly different from "We actually have it in stock or have an adequate supply chain and manufacturing to produce it at the rates required by our clients".

Apparently LM is taking the Rolex model to the defence industry.

Waiting lists, and "preferred" customers...

If we were smart, we'd maybe supplement our HIMARS with many more Korean systems. Built here, with ammunition built here, Poland, Korea, and maybe other places... So we aren't dependant on America to allow us to have some stuff on occasion.