Description
The Weapon System
HIMARS is a C-130 transportable, wheeled version of the MLRS launcher.
It mounts a standard MLRS rocket or missile pod on a Family of Medium
Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) five-ton truck. The lightweight chassis allows
for faster road movement, lower operating costs, and requires 30 percent
fewer strategic airlifts (via C-5 or C-17) to transport a battery than
the current tracked M270 MLRS launcher unit. The HIMARS can fire the
entire MLRS family of munitions, including all Army Tactical Missile
System (ATACMS) variants. The HIMARS has a self-loading capability, and
is manned by a three-man crew.
The HIMARS mission is to provide light airborne and air assault
divisions and early-entry/forces with Multiple Launch Rocket System
(MLRS) fire-power capability to conduct counterfire suppression of enemy
air defenses, and precision indirect fires to destroy material and
personnel targets.
Production Status, Population, and Planned Life
Current plans are to field two HIMARS Battalions in FY05. The anticipated procurement quantity is 888 HIMARS systems.
Prime contractor: Lockheed Martin Fire Control Systems (Dallas, TX and Camden, AR)
Office of Primary Responsibility: Manager, Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems, Redstone Arsenal, AL.
R-TOC Focus Areas: (From USD (AT&L) memorandum dated May 10, 1999)
The R-TOC approach for the HIMARS System is still being defined. Steps are being taken to capitalize on the CH-47 Chinook's development of the Army Maintenance Aid Chinook (AMAC) capability. Other initiatives will be developed as the redefined Pilot Program matures.
The following reports R-TOC actions implemented by the HIMARS Pilot Program:
- Reduced demand from weapon systems via reliability and maintainability improvements
- Through competition, the HIMARS Product Manager has achieved a reduction in the cost of the Low Cost Fire Control Panel.
- Teaming and competition have resulted in a lower cost solution for the Position Navigation Unit (PNU), the number one cost driver for HIMARS and the MLRS M270A1 launcher. CAIV studies of issues such as reloader alternatives, pod amperage, hydraulic system alternatives, travel lock actuator alternatives, and azimuth drive unit alternatives. The PNU initiative is approved for funding under the second round of PBD 721 funding, approved in December 2001.
- Establishing incentives that focus on life cycle program savings; developing cost savings reinvestment strategy.
- Reduced supply chain response times, leading to reduced spares, system support footprint, and depot needs
- Implemented a Logistics Center of Excellence (LCOE) concept for wholesale supply support.
- The system is converting to use of AIT to manage inventory, collect supply and maintenance data, and provide near-real time information to supply and maintenance managers.
- The project office is working with the University of Maryland and OSD to develop a supply chain management portal
- Competitive sourcing of product support, leading to streamlining and overhead
- The project office performed a Product Support Trade Study to select the best product support strategy for HIMARS. The project office is recommending a PBL agreement which provides an enhanced role in inventory management, repair, overhaul, status monitoring, and database management. The government will retain responsibility for program/contract management, sustainment engineering, readiness monitoring, and supply support oversight.
- The project office has developed a Product Support Decision Support System (PSDSS) to analyze data and permit informed decision-making. The DSS will support reliability analysis, contingency planning, analysis of alternatives, logistics footprint analysis, and LCC reduction analysis.
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