LM-Rheinmetall GMARL Launcher Firing.
Rheinmetall-Lockheed Martin GMARS Launcher Live Fire: White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico – August 5, 2025 – In a significant stride for European defense capabilities, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, key partners in the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) program, have announced the successful completion of the GMARS launcher’s inaugural live fire. The demonstration, held at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, proved the system’s ability to launch Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, a munition widely used by Germany and allied nations, thereby reinforcing crucial interoperability for joint operations.
This successful live fire marks a pivotal milestone in the GMARS development program. The initiative aims to equip military forces with a European-built, highly mobile, survivable, and versatile long-range precision fires capability. The GMARS launcher boasts an impressive loadout capacity, capable of carrying two ATACMS missiles, four Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), 12 GMLRS Standard Range, or 12 Extended Range GMLRS missiles.
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“We are thrilled to have achieved this major milestone in the GMARS program,” stated Dr. Björn Bernhard, CEO of Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Europe. “The successful live fire showcases the system’s precision and reliability, and we are confident that GMARS will meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
Based on the robust Rheinmetall HX vehicle series, the GMARS launcher is designed for high interoperability and interchangeability with existing M270A2 and HIMARS launchers, positioning it as an ideal solution for military forces operating across Europe. Its capacity to launch both current and future state-of-the-art long-range and extended-long-range rocket fire missions provides a significant tactical advantage on the modern battlefield.
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Paula Hartley, Vice President and General Manager of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin, commented on the achievement: “Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The GMARS program is a prime example of this commitment, and we are pleased to have successfully demonstrated its capability in this live fire exercise. With this milestone accomplished, we are poised to rapidly qualify and bring this capability to market.”
The GMARS program is a testament to the strategic partnership between Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, which leverages their combined expertise to deliver a European-centric launcher. This system maximizes the utility of combat-proven HIMARS and M270 components, offering twice the ammunition capacity and firepower of the M270 on a leading tactical truck, with the added benefit of integrating platforms and ammunition from allied nations.
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