US State Department approves sale of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to Jordan

Middle East, News, US February 10, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead variant and related equipment to Jordan at an estimated cost of $70 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying the Congress of the potential sale on February 8.

According to the DSCA release, Jordan requested to purchase 114 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary High Explosive (HE) Tri-Mode Fuze (GMLRS-U) (M31) Rockets, and 114 Reduced Range Practice Rockets (RRPR).

The deal would also include related equipment, personnel training and equipment, and systems integration support, the release added.

If the deal goes through, the prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control

“The proposed sale will improve Jordan’s capability to meet current and future threats on its borders and provide greater security for its economic infrastructure. This sale will provide Jordan with a long-range precision artillery support capability that will significantly improve US-Jordan interoperability and provide for the defense of vital installations. Jordan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional systems into its armed forces,” the DSCA statement read.

*^{Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

The combat-proven GMLRS is a surface-to-surface rocket designed to attack, suppress, and destroy targets using indirect precision fire up to 70 kilometers. Its munitions are more accurate than ballistic rockets and have a higher probability of killing with a reduced logistics footprint.

According to the information available on Lockheed Martin’s website, the current GMLRS munitions family includes three deployed variants:

Guided MLRS Unitary: The Guided MLRS Unitary round integrates a 200-pound unitary warhead, providing a precision strike for point targets. It has a range exceeding 70 kilometers.
Guided MLRS Alternative Warhead (AW): The Guided MLRS AW round was the first munition developed to service area targets. The AW variant has a range exceeding 70 kilometers and delivers a 200-pound class fragmenting warhead.
Extended-Range (ER) Guided MLRS: ER GMLRS offers an extended range of up to 150 kilometers in all weather conditions. It shares significant commonality with Guided MLRS and is deployable by HIMARS and the MLRS M270 family of launchers.