M31 GUMLRS

The GUMLRS (Guided Unitary MLRS) is an international low-risk, low-cost program between the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy to produce a guided rocket for use on the M270 multiple launch rocket artillery system, M270A1 improved model and HIMARS wheel-drive MLRS. The XM30 rocket will feature an extended range and an INS/GPS based guidance system. Additionally, small canards on the rocket nose will provide maneuverability and ultimately accuracy. Its outstanding accuracy will be measurable in meters. The maximum range of the XM30 GUMLRS will be in excess of 60 km (70 km?) and the payload will be an unitary 200 or 180-pound warhead. The GUMLRS will feature anti-jam capability and reduced collateral damage due to the use of an tri-mode fuse unitary warhead which allows airburst, point-impact and delay modes for penetrator capability. The GUMLRS is intended against hardened point targets such as bunkers, buildings, bridges and fortifications. The warhead will have a tri-mode fuze, which allows airburst, point-impact and delay modes for penetrator capability. Lockheed-Martin was awarded a $119 million system development and demonstration (SDD) contract in October 2003. The guided weapon development will continue through 2007 when the funds allocated to this program will expire. The SDD contract includes 86 rockets, 71 of which are flight articles, with the balance supporting test and other activities. The contract also provides test hardware to support 26 flight tests for an initial configuration and 39 flight tests of a follow-on configuration. As of December 2004, GUMLRS testing program was progressing well at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. During the third test conducted in December 2004 the weapon demonstrated full functionality while operating at cold temperatures, collecting of thermal data using the radome, and improved guidance software during a long-range mission. In the late January 2005, the fourth test was successfully conducted at the US Army's White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, involving use of the delay mode, the improved guidance software, and the warhead and fuzing mechanism under cold weather conditions. This was the first test of the GUMLRS with the enhanced capability fuze architecture. The fifth GMLRS Unitary flight test demonstrated warhead proximity sensor which enables the rocket's warhead to detonate at a predetermined distance above ground for improved effectiveness against soft targets. All test objectives were achieved at White Sands. In March 2005, the sixth GMLRS Unitary flight test demonstrated the delay mode at long range. In May 2005, Lockheed-Martin delivered the first 72 GMLRS Unitary rockets satisfying a request expressed in January 2005 by the US Army. More than 400 rockets were expected to be delivered in accordance with the same Urgent Need Statement during 2005. On 10 July 2006, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems was selected as the warhead manufacturer for the GMLRS by the US Army and Lockheed Martin. The agreement established that General Dynamics was supplying the unitary warhead through 2020. GMLRS Unitary EBW is a variant of GUMLRS fitted with an over-pressurized enhanced blast warhead suitable for the urban environment. Thanks to this warhead GMLRS Unitary EBW features minimized collateral damage.

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