Friday, November 21, 2008

M26

Also Known As
M28 (training rocket)

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Lockheed Martin

Applications
M142 HIMARS
M270 MLRS
M270A1 MLRS
RM-70

Family Members
M26A1

Description: The M26 rockets are spin-stabilized unguided projectiles. They are powered by a solid fuel rocket motor. Once fired, the M26 rocket follows a ballistic trajectory. The M26 rockets are stored in individual tubes which provide storage and act as the launch ramp. The 2 launch containers employed by the M270 MLRS rocket artillery system consist of 12 (2x6) M26 rockets inside their associated tubes.

The M26 rocket is the main ammunition of the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System). Both were combat proven successfully in 1991, during the operation Desert Storm. The M28 is a training rocket designed to simulate the M26 rocket firing. The M26 rocket has been fielded in 14 countries around the world.

Each M26 rocket carries up to dual purpose 644 M77 DPICM submunitions detonated by impact at a maximum range of 32 km. Employing the M77 submunitions a M26 rocket can cover an area of 0.23 square kilometers.

Specifications
Number of Submunitions: 644

Dimensions: Diameter 227 mm, Length 3.9 m

Weights: Max Weight 306 kg (675 lb)

Performance: Max Range 32,000 m (104,987 ft), Min Range 11,500 m (37,730 ft)

M26 - Contracts, Orders & Sales

see transactions report

M26 rocket (30) and M28 training round (492 modified into training missiles in Germany); items: 522; transferred from Netherlands to Finland in 2007
Items: 522

M26 rockets; items: 270; transferred from Germany to Slovakia in 2004
Items: 270

M26; items: 990; transferred from United States of America to South Korea in 1999
Items: 990

M26 artillery rockets; items: 799; transferred from United States of America to Japan in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002
Items: 799

Delivery	Items
2002	75
2000	100
1998	222
1997	402

M26?; items: 2462; transferred from United States of America to Greece in 1995 and 1997
Items: 2,462

Delivery	Items
1997	270
1995	2,192

M26 artillery rockets; items: 3625; transferred from United States of America to Israel in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001
Items: 3,625

Delivery	Items
2001	1,902
1998	138
1997	1,500
1995	85

M26 artillery rockets (3000) and M28 training rockets (240); items: 3240; transferred from Germany to Italy between 1992 and 1994
Items: 3,240

Delivery	Items
1994	1,020 M26s
1993	1,020 M26s
1992	1,200 960 M26s and 240 M28s

M26s (6,888) M28s (888 M26 training rocket); items: 7776; transferred from Germany to United Kingdom in 1992
Items: 7,776

M26 (3852) and M28 (522 M26 training rocket); items: 4374; transferred from Germany to France in 1992
Items: 4,374

News
Corect Guidance Module on MLRS Rocket Tested Successfully

UK to Scrap Dummy Cluster Munitions

FMS: UAE Requests HIMARS Rocket Artillery Systems

HIMARS Rocket Launcher Fielded

Operators

see operators map | see family operators map

Denmark

Egypt

Finland / 532

ex-Dutch Army M26 rockets (30 M26 and 492 M28)

France

Germany

Greece

Israel

Italy

Japan

Netherlands

Turkey

United Kingdom / Inactive - No Longer Operational

In March 2007, the UK MoD announced its intention to scrap all dummy cluster munitions in the armed forces inventory including RBL 755 aerial dispenser and M26 rocket

United States of America

Image Gallery

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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