The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Canada of 26 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 1 October 2025.
The proposed FMS, which is worth an estimated USD 1.75 billion (EUR 1.49 billion), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Approval for the potential Canadian HIMARS FMS comes a day after the US State Department approved a potential FMS to Australia covering up to 48 M142 HIMARS systems.
Specifically, Canada has requested to buy 26 M142 HIMARS; 132 M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion Systems (IMPS); 132 M30A2 GMLRS Alternative Warhead (AW) pods with IMPS; 32 M403 Extended Range (ER) GMLRS AW pods with IMPS; 32 M404 ER GMLRS Unitary pods with IMPS; and 64 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) pods.
Also included in the package are various non-Major Defense Equipment items, including: Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket pods; AN/PRC-160 and AN/PRC-167 radios; technical data; integration support services; spare parts; tool kits; test equipment; and various aspects of technical, training, engineering, transportation, logistics and programme support.
The Canadian military had indicted in March 2025 that it planned to acquire HIMARS systems to fulfil its Long Range Precision Strike (Land) programme requirement. However, issues with the US Trump Administration over the imposition of tariffs on Canadian products meant that Canadian procurement of US defence systems was put under review at the time – including the Canadian purchase of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
The DSCA stated that a HIMARS FMS for Canada “will protect Canada by improving Canada’s contribution to collective hemispheric defense and to defense and deterrence in Europe, as directed by NATO’s defense plans”.
The principal contractor for a Canadian HIMARS FMS will be Lockheed Martin out of its facilities in Grand Prairie, Texas.
