The USA kicks off European HIMARS initiative

The U.S. Army, in coordination with NATO allies and other U.S. stakeholders, is developing a multi-faceted approach to build alliance lethality, interoperability and field artillery expertise.

The approach is centered on rocket artillery and is known as the European High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Initiative, or EHI.

The EHI aims to bring together field artillery experts from nations that have procured HIMARS or have expressed interest in procuring the system.

As part of EHI, representatives of interested countries will first hold a meeting to discuss the effectiveness, training and use of HIMARS in modern combat conditions. Further, measures will be taken to expand knowledge among military personnel of various countries – they will be told about the capabilities of this weapon system and, if necessary, trained in its operation.

Events under this project should take place in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

EHI is scheduled to begin this spring.

As previously reported, the U.S. plans to set up a training center in Europe to train operators of M142 HIMARS systems.

Demand for the systems in Eastern Europe is increasing following the weapon’s successes in Ukraine.

The proposed HIMARS program would be available to NATO countries that are approved for foreign military sales of the long-range artillery systems.

As previously reported, in February the U.S. Department of State supported the possible sale to the Netherlands of 20 launchers of M142 HIMARS. It also includes the possibility of delivery of M57 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles.

Warsaw will also receive HIMARS. The U.S. Department of Defense informed Congress of selling 18 HIMARS systems and missiles to Poland. The contract covers the supply of launch systems and ammunition, including ATACMS missiles with an estimated cost of $10 billion.

M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) uses a 6-wheel chassis of an M1140 FMTV tactical truck. The system can be used as a rocket launcher with ammunition of different ranges and as a tactical missile system.