The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Latvia of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 24 October 2023.
The sale, which is worth an estimated USD 220 M (EUR 206 M), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Latvia has requested to buy six HIMARS; 12 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) pods with insensitive munitions propulsion systems (IMPS); 12 M31A2 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) high-explosive pods with IMPS; and 10 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) pods. Also included are reduced-range practice rocket pods; intercom systems to support the HIMARS launcher; ruggedised laptops; training; training equipment; technical publications; spares; services; support equipment; and various elements of programme and logistic support.
HIMARS is essentially a multiple rocket launcher that can fire the munitions launched by the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System but is instead mounted on a US Army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle (FMTV) truck chassis.
The Latvian Ministry of Defence requested to buys HIMARS from the US government in July 2022, five months after Russia – which borders Latvia on its eastern side – invaded Ukraine.
HIMARS contracts with Latvia’s Baltic neighbours, Estonia and Lithuania, were signed in December 2022 and the system has also been supplied to Ukraine.
The principal contractor for the Latvian HIMARS deal will be Lockheed Martin out of its facilities in Grand Prairie, Texas.
