Friday, November 21, 2008

M30 GMLRS

IOC: 2005
Total Production: 43,795
Total Program's Cost: USD$6.0 billion

GMLRS ER

Origin
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
Lockheed Martin
MBDA

Description: The GMLRS (Guided MLRS) is an international program in partnership between the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy to produce a guided rocket for the M270 artillery system as well as follow-on multiple launch rocket systems such as the M270A1 and HIMARS. The US Army is expected to receive the first GMLRS by 2005 and the European partners from 2006 onward.

The XM30 rocket will feature an extended range, all-weather capability and an INS/GPS based guidance system. Additionally, small canards on the rocket nose will provide maneuverability and ultimately high accuracy. The guided/maneuverable GMLRS rockets will enhance rocket artillery units with a precision strike capability. Lockheed-Martin estimated that average GMLRS can destroy the same target than MLRS rockets but employing 20 percent of rockets thus minimizing collateral damage.

The GMLRS ER (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Extended Range) is a variant of the M30 rocket developed to play the Concept Technology Demonstrator (CTD) role for the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defense (MoD) Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA) program. The developmental contract for IFPA was issued by the MoD to MBDA in April 2004. Since then, MBDA in partnership with Lockheed-Martin have been working on the GMLRS ER.

The GMLRS ER rocket demonstrator features an extended range out to 100 kilometers which one of the key for the IFPA munitions requirement. The rocket demonstrator test firings concluded in July 2005 at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. During the flight tests, the GMLRS ER performed at higher altitude and at higher speeds than the standard M30 rocket.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 227 mm, Length 4 m

Weights: Max Weight 308 kg (679 lb)

Performance: Max Range 60,000 m (196,850 ft)

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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