The US State Department has approved a $930-million foreign military sale of Lockheed Martin’s M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment to Sweden.
The proposed sale is intended to enhance Stockholm’s artillery and mid-range fire capability, as well as its interoperability with the US and other allied forces.
Sweden requested a total of 20 HIMARS, along with 35 each of M31A2 guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS) unitary pods with insensitive munitions propulsion systems (IMPS); M30A2 GMLRS alternative warhead (AW) pods with IMPS; M403 extended range (ER) GMLRS AW pods with IMPS; and M404 ER GMLRS unitary pods with IMPS.
The package also includes 20 M57 army tactical missile system pods; 24 international field artillery tactical data systems; low-cost reduced range practice rocket pods; AN/PRC-158 and AN/PRC-160 radios; defense advanced global positioning system receivers; and other related program support.
M142 HIMARS
The combat-proven, wheeled M142 HIMARS carries one pod capable of launching six rockets or one missile and fires the same MLRS family munitions as the tracked M270 MLRS against high-value targets.
Transportable by a C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter, the system can be rapidly deployed by air. It also features shoot-and-scoot survivability, allowing it to relocate quickly before retaliatory fire arrives.
Its performance in Ukraine’s war against Russia contributed to the rising demand for the long-range rocket launcher platform.
In 2025 alone, the US approved both new and additional orders for Australia, Bahrain, and Canada.
However, global delivery timelines are uncertain, even as Lockheed Martin increased annual production capacity from 60 to 96 launchers in 2024.
Despite this, countries like Estonia still aim to proceed with additional orders, with Sweden as the latest customer awaiting the rocket launcher.
