The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is designed to attack the enemy deep, and to strike at counterfire, air defense and high payoff targets, complementing cannon artillery and other fire support assets with an all weather, long range capability, and a full suite of munitions.

The M270 launcher is a self-propelled armored rocket and missile firing platform with a crew of three (section chief, gunner and driver). The launcher is composed of the M993 extended Bradley tracked carrier and the M269 Launcher-Loader Module (LLM). The LLM contains a built in self-loading system that holds either two launch pod containers (LPC) or two guided missile launch assemblies (GMLA), but not a mix of both (each bay of the launcher must be loaded with the same type munition). The LPC holds six rockets and the GLMA holds one missile for an onboard firing capability of twelve rockets or two missiles.

Each launcher has the onboard capability to receive a fire mission, determine launcher location, compute firing data, orient on the target and fire. The M270 carrier cab houses the Fire Control System (FCS). The FCS computes firing data that is applied to the LLM via the Stabilization Reference Package/Position Determining System (SRP/PDS) and the LLM Launcher Drive System (LDS). The components, as a whole, apply position survey, vehicle heading reference and aiming stabilization. The system uses standard Army communications systems to transmit and receive digital communications. Once laid and armed the launcher can fire:

When the Improved Fire Control System (IFCS) and the Improved Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS) upgrades are applied to the M270 launcher the launcher is designated M270A1 (Figure 1-1). The IFCS replaces obsolete, maintenance intensive hardware and software, providing support for future MLRS family of munitions (MFOM) and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) family of munitions (AFOM). An embedded global positioning system (GPS) supplements the existing inertial position-navigation system. The IFCS modification upgrades the electronic and navigation equipment, reduces operations and sustainment costs, and revises the software architecture.

The ILMS provides a tremendous capability as well. It is designed to reduce fire mission and reload cycle times. This is achieved by providing a faster drive system that moves simultaneously in azimuth and elevation. The ILMS will decrease the traverse time from stowed position to worst case aim point by approximately 80 percent (from 93 to 16 seconds). The ILMS also decreases the mechanical system reload time over 30 percent. The reduced time spent at the launch and reload points increases the survivability of the launcher crew and associated rearm personnel.

This is the basic rocket currently fielded for MLRS. The M26 can attack targets at ranges between 10 to 32 kilometers. It is used against personnel, soft and lightly armored targets normally with a target location error of 150 meters or less. Each rocket dispenses 644 M77 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) sub-munitions over the target area. The armed M77 sub-munitions detonate on impact. The anti-materiel capability is provided through a shaped charge with a built-in standoff. The M77 can penetrate up to four inches of armor. Its steel case fragments and produces anti-personnel effects with a radius of four meters.

The ER-MLRS (Figure 1-2) is a free flight rocket designed to engage targets at ranges from 13 to 45 kilometers. It is a materiel change to the M26 rocket. Compared to the M26, the ER-MLRS has a lengthened rocket motor for greater range. Accuracy is optimized by incorporating a no-load detent in the launch tube to reduce launch tip-off errors. While the warhead section is smaller than the M26, effectiveness is maintained through a modified center core burster that enlarges the size of the grenade pattern on the ground. Each of the 518 XM85 sub-munitions is equipped with a self-destruct fuze to reduce hazardous duds for improved maneuver force safety. Fielding is anticipated in FY00.

The GMLRS integrates an inertial guidance and control package into the ER-MLRS (Figure 1-3). The guidance and control package consists of an inertial measurement unit, a flight computer, and canards housed in the nose section of the rocket. Unlike the traditional free flight M26, whose accuracy degrades as the range to the target increases, the GMLRS provides consistent improved accuracy from 15 kilometers minimum range to a maximum range of 60 kilometers. The extended range allows for expanded target sets. Improvements in accuracy increase lethal effects while reducing rocket expenditures and reducing the risk of collateral damage normally associated with free-flight munitions. Reducing the number of launchers and/or rockets required per fire mission improves launcher survivability. Each GMLRS contains over 400 XM85 sub-munitions, effective against personnel and soft to lightly armored targets. The GMLRS fielding is anticipated in FY02.

The MSTAR (Figure 1-4) will be a guided MLRS rocket carrying smart sub-munitions out to a range of approximately 60 kilometers. After dispense, the sub-munitions will use onboard sensors to detect, classify and engage stationary or moving targets. The sub-munitions will use either explosively formed penetrators or shape charges to penetrate armor. The MSTAR fielding date is to be determined.

MFOM characteristics are summarized in Table 1-1.

The ATACMS family of munitions (AFOM) provides the division MLRS battalion with the capability to deliver long-range effects in all weather, day and night to 300 kilometer depths. The AFOM variants are known by the terms Block I, IA, II and IIA. Each variant addresses a specific mission need discussed below. Table 1-2 provides a summary of the AFOM characteristics.

ATACMS Block I is designed to engage "soft" stationary targets at range from 25 to 165 kilometers. The target set includes air defense units, C3, surface-to-surface missile units, logistical site and helicopter forward operating bases. ATACMS Block I is a semi-ballistic, all weather, and highly responsive missile. The missile carries approximately 950 anti-personnel, anti-material (APAM) M74 bomblets. It has three programmable dispense patterns and has off-axis launch capability. Any M270 launcher can fire Block I missiles. The Block I is currently fielded.

ATACMS Block IA complements Block I (Figure 1-5) and is designed to engage "soft" stationary targets at ranges from 70 to 300 kilometers. The target set includes air defense units, C3, surface-to-surface missile units, logistical sites and helicopter forward operating bases. ATACMS Block IA is a semi-ballistic, all weather, and highly responsive missile. The missile carries approximately 310 APAM M74 bomblets. The missile maintains its effectiveness over the greater range due to its embedded GPS guidance system. The ATACMS Block IA is fired from M270A1 launchers or M270 launchers that are modified with the Improved Position Determining System (IPDS), consisting of a GPS antenna, various interface cables, and new armored doors at the back of the launcher loader module. Block IA has three programmable dispense patterns and has off-axis launch capability. Block IA fielding is ongoing.

ATACMS Block II is a semi-ballistic, surface to surface guided missile that carries 13 BAT (Brilliant Anti-Armor sub-munition) or BAT Pre-Product Planned Improvement (P3I) sub-munitions at ranges from 35 to 140 kilometers. The ATACMS Block II missile is an adaptation of the ATACMS Block I missile fielded with modifications to accommodate the BAT sub-munition. The primary target set for the missiles are large battalion size concentrations of moving armor. Once dispensed the unpowered, aerodynamically stable BAT sub-munition is capable of autonomously seeking and destroying moving armored targets through use of acoustic (for acquisition) and infrared sensors (for terminal attack). The BAT P3I sub-munitions will expand the target set to include hot or cold, stationary or moving hard or soft targets including surface to surface missile transporter erector launchers. (Note: Block II missiles require either an M270 launcher modified with IPDS or the M270A1 launcher). The Block II first unit equipped fielding is anticipated in FY01.

ATACMS Block IIA is a semi-ballistic, surface to surface guided missile. It will have GPS augmented inertial guidance and off axis launch capability. It will carry 6 BAT P3I sub-munitions to ranges from 100 to 300 kilometers (Figure 1-6). Once dispensed the BAT P3I sub-munition is capable of autonomously seeking and destroying moving or stationary targets through use of acoustic, millimeter wave and infrared sensors. The BAT P3I sub-munitions target set includes hot or cold, stationary or moving hard or soft targets including surface to surface missile transporter erector launchers. The sub-munition has increased performance over the basic BAT sub-munition in adverse weather and countermeasure environments. (Note: Block IIA missiles require either an M270 launcher modified with IPDS or the M270A1 launcher) The fielding of the Block IIA is anticipated in FY06.

The AN/TPQ36 is optimized to locate shorter-range, high-angle, lower-velocity indirect fire weapons such as mortars and shorter-range artillery. It can also locate longer-range artillery and rockets within its maximum range. The planning ranges used as a baseline to position the Q36 are 12 kilometers for artillery and mortars and 24 kilometers for rockets. These planning ranges are where the highest probability of detection lies for the systems design.

The effective range capabilities of the Q36 are based on the accuracy standard of 1 percent of range or 100 meters circular error probable (CEP) with a 90 percent probability), whichever is larger. Generally, increased artillery ranges make the destruction of targets acquired beyond the 12 kilometer planning range a lower probability. Although the Q36 will locate artillery and mortar targets out to 24 kilometers, probabilities of detecting those targets to the specified accuracy are lower. The Q36 will locate rockets out to 24 kilometers with a greater probability of detection and accurate location than artillery and mortars because of the size of the projectile.

The Q36 version 8 electronics upgrade provides reduced emplacement and displacement times, faster access to data, increased memory and digital map storage capability. It has a new high-speed signal processor capable of processing 20 targets per minute, provides for remote operations up to 100 meters from the antenna transceiver group and an enhanced probability of detection. These changes are accomplished with a new hard disk drive, a flat panel display/control unit, a signal data processor and portable laptop computer mounted in a lightweight multi-purpose shelter.

The AN/TPQ37 is optimized to locate longer-range, low angle, higher velocity weapons such as long-range artillery and rockets. However, it will also locate short-range, high-angle, lower velocity weapons complementing the Q36. The planning ranges used as a baseline to position the Q37 are 30 kilometers for mortars and 50 kilometers for rockets. The minimum range of the system is three kilometers. These planning ranges are where the highest probability of detection lies for the systems design.

The effective range capabilities of the Q37 are also based on the accuracy standard of 1 percent of range or 100 meters circular error probable (CEP) with a 90 percent probability), whichever is larger. The Q37 will locate artillery out to its maximum range of 50 kilometers, however, the probability of detection is lower.

The Firefinder AN/TPQ-47 (Figure 1-7) will replace the AN/TPQ-37 antenna transceiver group using advanced technology to provide rapid and increased target location, improved accuracy, and target classification at greater ranges. The system will also improve system transportability, maintainability, and reliability for increased effectiveness on the battlefield.

Proposed requirements for the Q47 include enhanced survivability against direction finding/ anti-radiation missile threats, drive on/off C-130 and larger aircraft, on-board position-navigation system, increased range for conventional artillery (60 kilometers), rockets (150 kilometers) and ballistic missiles (250+ kilometers), remote operational capability, and the ability to process stored targets on the move. Anticipated fielding completion is to be determined.