The US Army has conducted a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) mission in Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold.
The activity involved the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher, deployed under the HIRAIN concept.
HIRAIN is an operational method that allows a HIMARS launcher to be transported by air to a forward location, conduct a firing mission, and then redeploy within a compressed timeframe.
Using this approach, the launcher can be airlifted by aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules or C-17 Globemaster III from a staging base to an austere airfield.
After landing, the HIMARS launcher is offloaded from the aircraft, moved into position, prepared for firing missions, and then loaded again for departure.
The method reduces reliance on ground convoys and enables movement across areas where terrain or security conditions limit surface transportation.
Joint Planning and Rapid Deployment
During the training event, soldiers worked alongside US Air Force aircrews to plan and execute the launcher’s air movement.
The activity focused on synchronization between ground and air units, including aircraft loading procedures and mission timing.
Army personnel stated that the interval between mission receipt and aircraft loading can be completed in under a day, with loading procedures frequently concluded faster than anticipated.
The objective is to minimize the system’s exposure while maintaining the ability to deploy, fire, and relocate quickly.
In the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, “we’re often operating in small packages from islands with austere airports and limited life support,” said US Army Lt. Col. Travis Hertlein, 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery Regiment commander.
“HIRAIN allows us to train to get into these locations and provide extended reach with 24/7 precision fire capability.”
Air Force officers added that such missions require detailed planning, including assessments of runway length, aircraft performance, and weather conditions to ensure safe transport of heavy equipment.
The Cobra Gold activity also included coordination with the Royal Thai Army and other participating forces, contributing to joint and multinational training focused on mobility and long-range fire support in complex environments.
