Pentagon to Order More HIMARS, GMLRS to Make up for Stock Released to Ukraine

The Pentagon has received $400 million to order more High Mobility Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS).

On August 25, William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Doug Bush, visited critical manufacturing facilities in Camden, Arkansas responsible for producing HIMARS and GMLRS systems.

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"As we continue providing security assistance to Ukraine, we are working with industry to accelerate production of critical weapons and systems," LaPlante said. "This includes providing funding to buy more equipment, expand production lines and support additional hiring and workforce development."

He added, “We have received nearly $400 million dollars to replenish HIMARS and GMLRS in DOD stocks… In addition, we are planning nearly $200 million to expand and accelerate production and are anticipating contract awards this fall and early next year."

The visit followed the announcement of nearly $3B in additional security assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, released Wednesday. As the largest support package to date, it represents a sustainable, multi-year investment in critical capabilities to ensure Ukraine can continue to defend itself over the long term. Unlike the Presidential Drawdown, which DOD has continued to leverage to deliver equipment to Ukraine from DOD stocks, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry.

"We will continue to closely consult with Ukraine on capability needs — and as President Biden has said, our goal is straightforward: The United States wants to see a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further aggression," LaPlante said.

Currently, Ukraine is effectively employing the lightweight mobile launchers and precision-strike munitions produced in Camden facilities to target key Russian capabilities as well as logistics and command and control nodes.

Defensemirror.com Bureau