MLRS Product Improvement Program
Abstract
Project DX8. The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher is a full spectrum, combat proven, all weather, 24/7 lethal and responsive, precision strike weapon system. HIMARS provides critical missile precision strike, operational shaping fires, counterfire, and close support destructive and suppressive fires. HIMARS is a C-130 or C-17 transportable, wheeled, indirect fire, rocket/missile launcher capable of firing one pod of precision rockets/missiles from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM), to include the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). These munitions are capable of engaging targets with precision at ranges up to 300 kilometers. This project funds software development for the HIMARS launcher. The government assumed responsibility for software development and maintenance from the prime contractor in FY2016. Organic software is defined as government developed, maintained, and owned software. The long-term end state is a convergence of tactical software across the HIMARS and MLRS launcher platforms into a single product supporting both systems. Justification: FY2018 Base funding in the amount of $3.929 million for project DX8 supports HIMARS-unique Software Build, Version 8.2. This software is projected to be available for fielding to the M142 fleet in FY2019. Software Version 8.2 enables portability to the M270A2 (MLRS) tracked launcher upon receipt of a hardware Fire Control System upgrade. Project 093. The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher is a full spectrum, combat proven, all weather, 24/7 lethal and responsive, precision strike weapon system. MLRS provides critical missile precision strike, operational shaping fires, counterfire, and close support destructive and suppressive fires. MLRS is a tracked, indirect fire, rocket/missile launcher capable of firing two pods of precision rockets/missiles from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM), to include the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). These munitions are capable of engaging targets with precision at ranges up to 300 kilometers. This project funds software development for the MLRS launcher. The government assumed responsibility for software development and maintenance from the prime contractor in FY2016. Organic software is defined as government developed, maintained, and owned software. The long-term end state is a convergence of tactical software across the HIMARS and MLRS launcher platforms into a single product supporting both systems. Justification: FY2018 Base funding in the amount of $5.000 million for project 093 supports the initiation of software development of an organic tactical software build in support of the interim Fire Control System (FCS) hardware supporting both the current MLRS Fleet (upon upgrade with a modern hardware FCS) and the Army’s MLRS Fleet Expansion effort. This software development leverages the program’s completed software transition from the prime contractor to the government in FY2016. This interim FCS solution will be ready to field in FY2021 and the long-term FCS solution is expected to be ready to field in FY2024. The tactical software is a critical developmental item required to field additional launchers, maintain backward compatibility for current fleet sustainment, and anticipated to be the first release of organic software common to both the MLRS and HIMARS launcher in FY2021. Project DZ8: Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) is being developed as a cluster and insensitive munition compliant system that replaces and improves upon Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) capabilities. The mission of the LRPF System will be to attack/neutralize/suppress/destroy targets using missile delivered indirect precision fires. LRPF will provide Joint Force Commanders with a 24/7, all-weather capability to attack critical and time sensitive area and point targets including threat air defense, missile launchers, command and control centers, assembly/staging areas and high payoff targets at all depths of the tactical battlefield. LRPF will counter the enemy's ability to conduct combat maneuver and air defense operations. LRPF requirements include: max range of greater than 300km, specified lethality against the designated target set, a Launch Pod Missile Container (LPMC) that holds a minimum of one missile, and compatibility with the existing launcher platforms (M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)). LRPF is being designed with an open system architecture that provides the capability for future growth to counter new and emerging threats. An Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) was directed in the Material Development Decision (MDD) on 6 November 2013. The AoA was completed on 30 April 2015 and a letter of sufficiency issued by OSD in September 2015. Milestone A; Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) is scheduled for 06 January 2017.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 0603778A_7_2040_PB_2018
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY17: Increased $25.100 million to enable risk reduction to support the MLRS Launcher Fleet Expansion effort. FY18: Increased $5.151 million to support initiation of a MLRS launcher tactical software build.
- Service Agency Name
- Army
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army
Related Documents
- Child Project: Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
- Child Accomplishment: Accelerate MLRS Fleet Expansion
- Child Accomplishment: MLRS Product Improvement Program
- Child Project: HIMARS Product Improvement Program
- Child Accomplishment: MLRS Production Improvement Program (PIP)-HIMARS PIP
- Child Project: Long Range Precision Fires
- Child Accomplishment: TM/RR