UK weapon system integrator ISTEC has been selected to provide the smoke discharger systems (SDSs) for the British Army’s new M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs), the company announced on 16 January 2025.

The news follows ISTEC announcing in September 2024 that it had delivered 65 general-purpose machine gun mounts for the British Army’s M270A2 fleet. The combined contract value for ISTEC’s M270A2 work, as supplied via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), exceeds GBP 1.5 million (EUR 1.78 million), the company noted.

An effective SDS is essential to enhance the M270A2’s survivability by providing rapid and effective smoke screens to obscure the vehicle from enemy observation and targeting. The smoke can be deployed quickly from under protection to create visual and infrared concealment, disrupting the enemy’s line-of-sight and guidance systems. This protection capability is crucial during manoeuvres in contact, allowing the vehicle to re-position while reducing the chances of it being subjected to counter-battery fire.

The British Army’s new M270A2s will be fitted with the ISL 66SD/4 system, which is a four-barrel, vehicle-mounted SDS capable of firing all natures of UK in-service 66 mm munitions. The ISL 66SD range has been designed to ensure both the base plate and canister connectors are compatible with the UK in-service 66 mm No12 Mk8 smoke discharger (dual pole) to minimise the logistic burden. The system is supplied with an ISTEC fire control unit that has four firing buttons, an arming safety cover and night-vision-device-compatible, colour-coded LED indicators to show the status of each pod.

Adrian Webster, operations manager at ISTEC was quoted by the company as saying, “We are extremely pleased to have won this important contract to help equip the UK’s new MLRS A2 platform with the best possible defensive suite of smoke dischargers. Our extensive experience in adapting solutions to meet vehicle geometry and architecture requirements, coupled with our long-standing history with both NSPA and the MLRS platform, makes this an exciting opportunity.

“This project, combined with the weapon mount systems, further enhances the UK’s defence capabilities with cutting-edge technology, supporting national security and the operational effectiveness of the MLRS A2,” he added.

The British Army’s MLRS upgrade programme was announced in 2022 and the army began receiving systems upgraded to the M270A2 standard in the autumn of 2023. The main feature of these upgraded MLRSs is their improved Common Fire Control System (CFCS), which allows them to fire munitions such as the Precision Strike Missile. The upgrade also features a new engine, upgraded transmission and the introduction of a new armoured cabin.

The UK Ministry of Defence announced in mid-2024 it plans to upgrade and expand the British Army’s MLRS fleet to 85 vehicles. As of mid-2024 the army had 26 operational MLRS units and an additional 50 in reserve. Of these, 69 are being upgraded, while plans call for a further 16 M270A2s to be acquired.

The British Army’s fleet of M270A2 MLRSs will benefit from being protected by ISTEC ISL 66SD/4 four-barrel smoke discharger systems. (Photo: ISTEC)