The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) provides the Army an all-weather, indirect, area fire weapon system to strike counterfire, air defense, armored formations, and other high-payoff targets at all depths of the tactical battlefield. Primary missions of MLRS include the suppression, neutralization and destruction of threat fire support and forward area air defense targets.

The Multiple Launch Rocket System is a versatile weapon system that supplements traditional cannon artillery fires by delivering large volumes of firepower in a short time against critical, time-sensitive targets. These targets often include enemy artillery, air defense systems, mechanized units, and personnel. MLRS units can use their system's "shoot and scoot" capability to survive while providing fire support for attacking manuever elements. MLRS is not intended to replace cannon artillery, but has been designed to complement it.

MLRS performed extremely well in Operation Desert Storm (ODS) in which significant numbers of launchers were deployed. All operational requirement were met and, in most cases, exceeded levels for readiness, reliability and maintainability. MLRS was first fired in combat during Operation Desert Storm. The system's initial trial by combat occurred on the evening of 13 February 1991 somewhere near the Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait tri-border area when the 21st Field Artillery's Alpha Battery engaged in an artillery raid on targets in southern Iraq. The battery was used as a single firing unit, with all 10 of its MLRS launchers lined up along a 3-kilometer stretch. During the fight, more than 100 rockets were fired on several enemy positions in less than 1 minute.

During the course of the Persian Gulf conflict, Alpha Battery fired 550 rockets, the second highest MLRS battery in total missions and total rockets fired. The top MLRS battery in SWA was A Battery, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (MLRS), Oklahoma Army National Guard which fired 699 rockets during the raids and actual ground war. In all, U.S. Army artillery units fired over 17,000 MLRS rockets against Iraqi howitzer and rocket battalions, air defense artillery (ADA) battalions, command and control facilities, and logistics facilities. The MLRS proved to be extremely effective and very dependable throughout the conflict in SWA.

British forces also fired the MLRS in combat for the first time during Operation Desert Storm. According to LTC Peter Williams, Commander of Britain's 39th Heavy Artillery Regiment in Saudi Arabia, "It's the decisive battle winner. We call ourselves the Grid Square Removal System because the rockets from each launcher can take out a square kilometer of the map." Perhaps the most telling moniker attached to this weapon system during the Persian Gulf crisis, however, was that coined by the Iraqi troops who had to endure long hours of bombardment by coalition MLRS units. Captured Iraqi soldiers referred to the grenades dispersed by the MLRS as "steel rain." The deadly downpour rapidly dampened the Iraqi will to fight, helping to blast a significant psychological breach in Iraqi defensive positions in Kuwait. This mental opening ultimately translated into droves of Iraqi soldiers who voluntarily surrendered rather than endure further punishment from the MLRS maelstrom.

The MLRS rockets are tube-launched, spin-stabilized, free-flight projectiles. The rockets are assembled, checked, and packaged in a dual-purpose launch-storage tube at the factory. This design provides for tactical loading and firing of the rocket without troop assembly or detailed inspection. Major components of the rocket assembly include four stabilizer fins, a propulsion section, and a warhead section. Propulsion for the rocket is provided by a solid propellant rocket motor. An umbilical cable, passing through the aft end of the launch tube, links the FCS to an igniter in the rocket nozzle. The motor is ignited by an electrical command from the FCS.

Each rocket is packaged with the four fins folded and secured by wire rope retaining straps. As the rocket moves forward upon firing, lanyard devices trigger a delayed strap-cutting charge. After the rocket leaves the launch tube, the charge cuts the straps. This allows the fins to unfold and lock. The M28 and M28A1 rockets' LPCs have an additional fin release device to ensure deployment.

The MLRS rocket follows a ballistic, free-flight (unguided) trajectory to the target. The propulsion provided by the solid propellant rocket motor is the same for each rocket, so rocket range is a function of LLM elevation. The four stabilizer fins at the aft end of the rocket provide in-flight stability by maintaining a constant counterclockwise spin. The initial spin is imparted to the rocket through spin rails mounted on the inner wall of the launch tube.




The M77 submunitions detonate on impact. The antimateriel capability is provided through a shaped charge with a built-in standoff. The M77 can penetrate up to four inches of armor. Its steel case fragments and produces antipersonnel effects with a radius of 4 m.

In 1995 the Modified (MOD) Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) Advanced Concept Technical Demonstration (ACTD) was initiated after the US Army identified a need to delay and disrupt multiple rocket launcher movement. A variant of the XM85 Self Destruct grenade carried by the ER-MLRS rocket, the MOD DPICM had its firing pin removed to keep the grenade from exploding on contact. The MOD DPICM incorporated a modified integrated chip providing a longer random delay in self destruct and an anti-disturbance sensor to prevent tampering or neutralization. A two-phase test program was developed.

MLRS M26 basic tactical rocket
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
The MLRS M26 basic tactical rocket was designed to complement cannon weapons in the tactical fires arena. The M26 tactical rocket provides devastating effects in attacking critical, time sensitive targets with large volumes of firepower in a very short time. The M26 is a free flight unguided tactical rocket that provides an all weather, indirect fire capability to attack artillery and air defense systems, personnel, and light materiel targets. The M26 tactical rocket warhead contains 644 M77 dual purpose improved conventional munition submunitions which can be deployed to cover a 0.23 square km area. The average ground pattern of a 12-round ripple, with some overlapping of warhead patterns, varies from about 120,000 to 200,000 square meters, depending upon the range.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
Six M26 rockets are loaded in the launch pod/container (LP/C) at the factory. The six M26 rockets are shipped, stored, and fired from the LP/C. The M26 rocket is a wooden round with a shelf life of at least 15 years. The M26 provides the firepower superiority needed to silence enemy artillery and critical targets. This awesome capability was termed "steel rain" by the Iraqi commanders duringDesert Storm.

Extended Range Rocket (ER) MLRS
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
The extended range MLRS is an ACAT II program within the MLRS Project Office. The ER MLRS is a free flight, area fire artillery rocket designed to engage targets beyond the range of the existing MLRS. The development program includes the addition of a low level wind measuring device on the M270 launcher to sustain accuracy and effectiveness at the longer ranges and the incorporation of a self destruct fuze on each submunition to increase safety for friendly maneuver forces.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
The ER MLRS is similar to the basic MLRS with the following changes. The ER MLRS includes a lengthened rocket motor and smaller warhead section with fewer submunitions, a new no-load detent system for securing and releasing the rocket, a modified center core burster, and a new warhead fuze. Additionally, each M85 Dual- Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) submunition will be equipped with a self-destruct fuze. The system also includes the addition of a low level wind measuring device on the launcher.

The first in a series of low rate initial production (LRIP) contracts was awarded to Lockheed Martin Vought Systems (LMVS) on 31 July 1996 for 1326 ER-MLRS rockets. In February 1997, a second LRIP contract was awarded for an additional 1500 rockets. Delivery of these rockets was scheduled to start in 2QFY98. However, this start date was put into jeopardy due to the continuous development of the XM85 Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) grenade. The XM85 will reduce the hazardous dud rate (HDR) of the current M77 grenade to less than one percent, greatly improving friendly force maneuver.

Production and fielding of ER-MLRS rockets continues, with M26A2 ER-MLRS rockets fielded to storage sites in Korea for US Forces Korea. This is in accordance with the direction of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans (DCSOPS). In October 1997, DCSOPS, in response to an urgency of need request from Commander, US Forces Korea, waived the less than one percent hazardous dud rate (HDR) and directed that all ER-MLRS rockets (approximately, 4,300) be fielded to USFK by the end of 4QFY99. Currently, ER-MLRS rockets are loaded with the M77 Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) and are designated the M26A2. The M77 is the same DPICM as that in the M26 basic MLRS rocket. It has a hazardous dud rate of approximately 4%.

A production contract was awarded to the designer/builder of the M235 Self Destruct Fuze (SDF), an integral part of the M85 DPICM grenade. The M85 will reduce the hazardous dud rate (HDR) of the current M77 grenade to less than one percent, greatly improving friendly force maneuver. Upon completion of the equipment necessary to produce the SDF at the required high rates, approximately 1,200 M26A1 versions of the ER-MLRS will be manufactured and delivered to USFK in FY00. This will conclude the production run of ER-MLRS at approximately 4300 rockets for the US Army. Additionally, contracts were awarded to LMVS to produce M26A2 rockets for the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Bahrain. Delivery of rockets to ROK and Bahrain was in 2QFY99 and 3QFY99. Additional sales to foreign customers of both versions of the ER-MLRS were concluded prior to the end of 2QFY99.

M28A1 Reduced Range Practice Rocket (RRPR)
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION:
The M28A1 Reduced Range Practice Rocket is a short range practice rocket used to train operational MLRS units. The design maximizes the number of firing ranges that will support MLRS live fire training. The rocket motor is the same one used by the M26 Tactical MLRS Rocket.

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS:
The M28A1 is a short range training rocket used to train troops. The design is a standard M26 rocket motor with a ballasted blunt nosed warhead designed for training/test sites with short ranges. A special application software module is required for the launcher to recognize and launch the RRPR.