U.S. Deploys Advanced M270A2 MLRS in Europe

18 December, 2024 M270A2 of the US military in Europe. December 2024. Germany.

Source: www.army.mil The U.S. Army has deployed M270A2 rocket launchers in Europe, modernized for use with the new GMLRS-ER and PrSM missiles.

According to the U.S. Army, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade received the first nine M270A2 MLRSs. This American brigade is stationed in Germany.

A key element of the modernization is the integration of a common fire control system (CFCS). It is designed to unify the M270's operation with HIMARS and introduce the possibility of using GMLRS-ER long-range precision-guided rockets and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles.

M270A2 of the US military in Europe. December 2024. Germany.

Source: www.army.mil

The GMLRS-ER precision-guided missiles are an improved version of the well-known and actively used M30A2 and M31A2 GMLRS in Ukraine. The range of the improved ones was increased to 150 km (compared to 90 km of conventional GMLRS). At the same time, each transport and launch container will still hold 6 projectiles.

The short-range ballistic missile PrSM was developed to replace the MGM-140 ATACMS missiles and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 500 km (compared to 300 km for ATACMS).

PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) missiles in a launch pod. Photo: Lockheed Martin

At the same time, the PrSM carries a much smaller warhead, weighing only 91 kg, which should be compensated for by its high accuracy. In the future, several upgrades are planned to increase the range up to 1,000 km, the weight of the warhead, and the ability to engage moving targets.

M270A2 of the US military in Europe. December 2024. Germany.

Source: www.army.mil

In November, the U.S. military successfully tested an advanced M270A2 during an exercise in Finland.