HIMARS maintenance center launched in Romania

2 June, 2024 Opening of the HIMARS maintenance center in Romania. May 2024. Photo credits: Laurentiu Turoi

A HIMARS maintenance center was launched in the city of Bacau in Romania. Defense Romania reported on this. The publication notes that this is the first such facility in Europe designed to service the American-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

The maintenance center was opened at the facilities of the Romanian company Aerostar S.A. in partnership with the American Lockheed Martin. The grand opening of the national HIMARS maintenance center took place on May 30 in Bacau.

Opening of the HIMARS maintenance center in Romania. May 2024.

Photo credits: Laurentiu Turoi

Lockheed Martin noted that the HIMARS maintenance center will help create and preserve jobs in Romania and ensure lower operating costs for the Romanian ground forces.

Opening of the HIMARS maintenance center in Romania. May 2024. Photo credits: Laurentiu Turoi

Neighboring countries that have or will have M142 HIMARS artillery rocket systems in service in the future will also be able to repair them in Romania.

The initial contract for the supply of HIMARS to Romania was signed in August 2018. The country's Armed Forces started receiving the first MLRS in February 2021. The system components were delivered to the port of Constanta.

HIMARS of the Armed Forces of Romania, February 21, 2021. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Romania

HIMARS

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is based on the chassis of the M1140 FMTV six-wheeled tactical truck. The HIMARS launcher can be used as a multiple launch rocket system with high-precision ammunition of various ranges.

The system can also be used as an operational and tactical missile system for launching the M57 ATACMS short-range ballistic missile at a distance of up to 300 km.

Illustrative photo of Ukrainian M142 HIMARS. Photo credits: AFU StratCom

The system is designed to destroy areas where artillery systems, air defense and fire support systems, cargo vehicles, combat vehicles, and armored personnel carriers are concentrated, as well as to provide fire support. In May, the U.S.

State Department decided to sell three hundred AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles to Romania.