Poland and US sign agreement to integrate HIMARS components under Homar-A project

Europe, News, US September 14, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Polish Ministry of Defense signed a framework agreement with U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin for the Homar-A Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), a week after announcing that the country would expand its WISŁA air and missile defense capabilities.

Under the program Homar-A program, the Polish industry will work with U.S. defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin to integrate key components of the HIMARS rocket launcher onto a Jelcz 6×6 truck. The agreement includes technology transfer and production orders for HIMARS ammunition.

About 486 Homar-A vehicles are expected to be assembled in Poland, with first deliveries starting in 2026. The contract also includes the production of tens of thousands of rocket ammunition missiles.

Vice president and general manager of Tactical Missiles for Lockheed Martin Paula Hartley said, “The development of our Homar-A program marks another major step in strengthening Poland’s economic growth and security through partnerships with the local industrial base. We’re looking forward to jointly ensuring Poland and the entire region stay ahead of emerging security threats.”

Homar-A MLRS can effectively hit targets at ranges of more than 70 kilometers and the launcher is also capable of launching the ATACMS munition, which can reach up to 300 kilometers. During the International Defense Industry Expo in Poland, Warsaw unveiled its first full-scale prototype of the Homar-A MLRS launcher equipped with a munitions pod that carries 6 GMLRS rockets.

Earlier this year, under the U.S. Government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract, Poland received the first shipment of HIMARS launchers. Over the last decade, Lockheed Martin has spent $1.8 billion in Poland.

Poland PGZ, US Raytheon and Lockheed Martin MoU — ^{Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the production of the Javelin anti-tank weapon system in Poland. (Image Credit: PGZ/Lockheed Martin)}

Last week, Poland’s Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) also signed an agreement with the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between U.S. firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Under the agreement, the Javelin anti-tank weapon system will be produced in Poland.

President of the PGZ management board said in a statement, “Poland views the Javelin Joint Venture as a key strategic partner, and this agreement further strengthens our relationship with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.” He further added, “The strategic joint discussions and decisions leading to this agreement demonstrate the potential for fruitful long-term cooperation.”

Poland is also the first international country to receive the Javelin F-Model missile variant. The Javelin weapon system is currently in service in 23 countries. So far, the JJV has produced more than 50,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units.

Separately on September 5, Poland’s Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak approved a Letter of Acceptance with the U.S. Army to expand its WISŁA air and missile defense capabilities with the introduction of 12 Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors (LTAMDS), as well as 48 Patriot launchers.

Poland LTAMDS system — ^{LTAMDS is the next-generation air and missile defense radar, providing dramatically more performance against a range of threats, from manned and unmanned aircraft to cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonics. (Image Credit: RTX)}

“Poland’s expansion of its WISŁA program will fortify the country’s security and defense against a range of air and missile threats,” president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon Tom Laliberty said. “With the introduction of LTAMDS, Poland will become the first country after the US to complement the combat-proven Patriot with LTAMDS which provides extended range and full, 360-degree coverage to detect and defend against complex, highly coordinated, multi-threat attack scenarios,” he added.

According to the RTX, “LTAMDS is the next generation air and missile defense radar for the U.S. Army. A 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, powered by Raytheon-manufactured Gallium Nitride, LTAMDS provides dramatically more performance against the range of threats, from manned and unmanned aircraft to cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and hypersonics.”