The war in Ukraine has turned decisively with the introduction of Arkansas-built rocket launchers and precision-guided missiles, courtesy of a new contract let by the Pentagon. Part of President Joe Biden’s latest package to boost security for Ukraine, this contract is a significant uptick in production for HIMARS M142 launchers and other precision-strike weapons built at the sprawling Lockheed Martin factory in East Camden, Arkansas.
The contract- worth $430.9 million- awarded December 2, would accelerate the production of HIMARS launchers widely regarded as one of the most important weapons in the war in Ukraine. “This is an important contract because it will continue to supply Ukraine with the systems they need, but it will also help to restock supplies for the US military and our allies,” said Darrell Ames, a spokesman for the US Army.
Agility, reliability, and precision form the three pillars on which the HIMARS system has stood tall and vital for Ukraine’s defense setup. As known, the HIMARS launcher can fire multiple warheads with almost perfect precision, with military experts hailing it as a “game changer” system. Tom Karako, senior fellow at Harvard University’s International Security Program, points out that it can move quickly and disrupt counterattacks, thus making it hard against Russian forces.
It also includes the shipment of 18 M777 howitzers, with the corresponding GMLRS rockets and missiles in their entirety. These munitions thus enable troops to strike strategic targets from as far as 50 miles away, giving Ukraine another factor in their defensive complex.
These newest systems were very effective, but Russia has increasingly used electronic jammers to disrupt the GPS-targeting of the HIMARS, causing rockets to miss their targets. Add to this situation a never-ending “cat-and-mouse game” because the U.S. and Ukrainian forces are forever adapting to the new kinds of radio signals that Russian jammers are including in their repertoires. Pentagon officials work on software updates and other countermeasure methods to minimize the impact of this electronic warfare.
The HIMARS and GMLRS systems are vital to the existing territorial reconquest and disrupting Russian supply lines. However, electronic warfare evolves day after day, so effectiveness becomes a moot point with these systems. Or, as one Pentagon official said, “constant tweaking”
For over a generation, the Camden facility of Lockheed Martin has been on the leading edge in the production of these critical defense systems. The nearly 2,500-acre facility employs over 1,000 workers, who manufacture HIMARS, GMLRS, and a host of advanced weaponry. Top Pentagon officials have recognized the facility’s efforts, visiting in August to tour the production floor and speak to the workers.
The U.S. has provided more than $19.7 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, much of which has gone to advanced weaponry like HIMARS and GMLRS. This forms a very crucial source of assistance for Ukraine in trying to repel the aggression of Russia to secure the sovereignty of the territory.
These rocket systems, made in Arkansas, will be in greater demand as the war goes on. These latest Pentagon contracts are collectively valued at nearly $1 billion and will probably help Ukraine for years to come in the process of the U.S. military reinforcement. Because efforts to assist HIMARS and GMLRS continue counteracting Russian jamming, improving the precision of these systems, this will remain an important factor in Ukraine’s arsenal.