Munitions

GMLRS guided rocket

Also known as
  • Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System
  • GMLRS
  • M30 GMLRS
  • M30A1 GMLRS Alternative Warhead
  • M30A2 GMLRS Alternative Warhead
  • M31 GMLRS Unitary
  • M31A1 GMLRS Unitary
  • M31A2 GMLRS Unitary

GMLRS is the GPS-aided, inertial-guided 227 mm rocket family fired from HIMARS and M270 launchers. It gives MLRS-family launchers a six-rocket pod of precision 227 mm munitions, with documented U.S. combat use from Iraq through Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve and Western-supplied GMLRS pods central to Ukrainian long-range precision fires in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

GMLRS guided rocket, 227 mm guided artillery rocket, Munitions
Image source: Rocket Launched During Training Exercise

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
227 mm guided artillery rocket
Service note
2005-present service family; documented with U.S. and Ukrainian HIMARS/M270-family operations
Designer
Lockheed Martin
Designed
1990s-2000s development family
Unit cost
Varies by lot and variant
Produced
2000s-present
Number built
At least 75,000 delivered by Lockheed Martin, with continued standard and extended-range GMLRS production

Specifications

Caliber
227 mm guided rocket family
Guidance
GPS/PPS-aided inertial guidance
Launch platforms
M142 HIMARS and M270-family launchers, including M270A1/M270A2 where supported
Standard range
70+ km for standard GMLRS variants
Minimum range
15 km for M30A2 and M31A2 export-notified variants
Extended range
ER GMLRS reaches about 150 km; 2026 Army test engaged area targets beyond 100 km
Unitary warhead
Single 200-pound high-explosive warhead in GMLRS Unitary
Warhead options
Unitary high-explosive and alternative-warhead fragmentation variants
Pod load
Six GMLRS rockets per launch pod; HIMARS carries one pod and M270 carries two
Designation Guide

GMLRS is better understood as a guided rocket family than as one fixed round. The main public designations separate warhead type and range class.

DesignationWarhead or range classCatalog note
M30A1/A2Alternative warheadArea-effects GMLRS rocket documented in DOT&E testing and fired from MLRS-family launchers; M30A2 adds an insensitive-munition propulsion system.
M31A1/A2Unitary warheadSingle-warhead GMLRS family member; the acquisition report identifies a 200-pound high-explosive warhead and Federal Register material identifies M31A2 as the IMPS successor.
ER GMLRSExtended-range rocketArmy qualification work places the extended-range family in the roughly 150 km class while retaining HIMARS and M270A2 compatibility.
Variants

GMLRS designations split mainly by warhead and range: M30-series rockets cover alternative-warhead forms, M31-series rockets cover unitary-warhead forms, and ER GMLRS extends the range class.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
M30A1/A2 GMLRS Alternative WarheadArea-effects alternative-warhead rocket

DOT&E identifies GMLRS-AW as a GPS-aided inertial-guided rocket for area effects from MLRS-family launchers; export-notification material describes M30A2 as the IMPS successor to M30A1.

Sources: DOT&E FY2014 GMLRS-AW Report, Federal Register Finland GMLRS Notification

M31A1/A2 GMLRS UnitaryUnitary high-explosive rocket

The Selected Acquisition Report describes GMLRS Unitary as a 70+ km round with a single 200-pound high-explosive warhead for point targets; export-notification material identifies M31A2 as the IMPS successor and a primary munition for HIMARS and M270A1/M270A2 launchers.

Sources: GMLRS SAR December 2019, Federal Register Finland GMLRS Notification

Extended-Range GMLRSLonger-range GMLRS development

The U.S. Army reports ER GMLRS qualification work for the roughly 150 km range class while retaining HIMARS and M270A2 compatibility.

Sources: Army ER GMLRS Qualification

Launch Platforms

GMLRS is the primary 227 mm rocket family for the MLRS launcher family and is documented with both HIMARS and M270-series launchers.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
M142 HIMARS, Wheeled multiple rocket launcher and tactical missile launcher, ArtilleryM142 HIMARSWheeled launcher

HIMARS carries one six-rocket GMLRS or ER GMLRS pod; the Army's 2026 ER GMLRS Alternative Warhead test was fired from a HIMARS launcher.

Sources: Lockheed Martin GMLRS Product Page, Army ER GMLRS Qualification

M270 MLRS, Tracked multiple launch rocket system, ArtilleryM270 MLRSTracked launcher

The M270 family carries two six-rocket pods; Army and export-notification material specifically support M270A1/M270A2 compatibility for GMLRS-family rounds.

Sources: Lockheed Martin GMLRS Product Page, Federal Register Finland GMLRS Notification

Timeline

GMLRS guided rocket Key Events

  1. First GMLRS Unitary combat firing

    The 2019 Selected Acquisition Report records a September 2005 Iraq mission in which eight GMLRS Unitary rockets were fired from more than 50 km against enemy positions.

    Sources: GMLRS SAR December 2019

  2. Afghanistan firing record described

    DVIDS reported that Battery B, 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment fired more than 400 GMLRS rockets during an Afghanistan rotation.

    Sources: DVIDS GMLRS in Afghanistan

  3. 50,000th GMLRS production milestone

    The U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin marked the 50,000th GMLRS rocket, highlighting continued production across the guided rocket family.

    Sources: Army 50,000th GMLRS Rocket

  4. HIMARS and GMLRS sent to Ukraine

    The United States announced HIMARS for Ukraine and described the launcher package as carrying six GPS-guided GMLRS rockets.

    Sources: DOD HIMARS and GMLRS to Ukraine

  5. 75,000th GMLRS delivery reported

    Lockheed Martin reported delivery of the 75,000th GMLRS rocket to the U.S. Army while production continued to ramp for growing demand.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin Delivers 75K GMLRS Rockets

  6. ER GMLRS alternative-warhead qualification

    The U.S. Army said an ER GMLRS Alternative Warhead test at White Sands engaged area targets beyond 100 km and supported qualification work for the 150 km class rocket.

    Sources: Army ER GMLRS Qualification

Media

GMLRS guided rocket Videos

GMLRS guided rocket Images

GMLRS guided rocket, 227 mm guided artillery rocket, Munitions - view 1
Source: Rocket Launched During Training Exercise
GMLRS guided rocket, 227 mm guided artillery rocket, Munitions - view 2
Source: Rocket Launched During Training Exercise
Related Weapon Systems
M142 HIMARS, Wheeled multiple rocket launcher and tactical missile launcher, ArtilleryArtilleryM142 HIMARSWheeled multiple rocket launcher and tactical missile launcherThe M142 HIMARS is a U.S.-built wheeled rocket and tactical missile launcher produced by Lockheed Martin for mobile precision fires. It carries one six-rocket pod, two PrSM missiles, or one ATACMS missile, uses a five-ton truck chassis with an armored cab, and can deploy by C-130-class airlift. Lockheed Martin reported the 750th launcher delivery in November 2025, while its combat record spans U.S. operations and Ukrainian long-range fires against Russian forces.
APKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets, Guided rocket munition family, MunitionsMunitionsAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rocketsGuided rocket munition familyAPKWS / WGU-59 guided rockets are BAE Systems laser-guidance-kit munitions that convert Hydra 70 / 2.75-inch aerial rockets into precision-guided weapons. The family includes WGU-59/B guidance sections, single-variant all-up rounds, and later AGR-20/FALCO counter-UAS adaptations documented by U.S. Navy, Air Force, manufacturer, and Ukraine-security-assistance sources on helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and mounted launch systems.
Army Tactical Missile System / ATACMS, Short-range tactical ballistic missile, ArtilleryArtilleryArmy Tactical Missile System / ATACMSShort-range tactical ballistic missileThe Army Tactical Missile System, commonly known as ATACMS, is a U.S. solid-fuel short-range ballistic missile fired from M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS launchers. Its family spans M39/Block I cluster-warhead missiles, extended-range Block IA rounds, and later unitary-warhead variants, with documented combat use by U.S. forces in the 1990 Gulf War and 2003 Iraq War, transfer to Ukraine for long-range strikes, and later U.S. maritime-strike use during Operation Epic Fury.

Sources

Lockheed Martin GMLRS Product PagePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports manufacturer, launcher compatibility, pod load, and GMLRS family background. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DOT&E FY2014 GMLRS-AW ReportPublisher: Director, Operational Test and Evaluation | Note: Supports GMLRS-AW guidance, range, launcher compatibility, warhead, contractor, and accuracy context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07GMLRS SAR December 2019Publisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports GMLRS Unitary, Alternative Warhead, DPICM, and ER GMLRS variant context; directly supports 2003 Iraq War use by documenting the first GMLRS Unitary combat fire mission in Iraq in September 2005. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Army ER GMLRS QualificationPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports Extended-Range GMLRS Alternative Warhead qualification, 150 km range class, beyond-100 km test engagement, and compatibility with HIMARS and M270A2 platforms. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Federal Register Finland GMLRS NotificationPublisher: Federal Register | Note: Supports M30A1/M30A2 and M31A1/M31A2 GMLRS designation, IMPS, GPS/PPS-aided inertial guidance, 15 km minimum range, 70+ km range, and M270A1/M270A2 launcher compatibility. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DVIDS GMLRS in AfghanistanPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: a U.S. Army HIMARS battery fired more than 400 GMLRS rockets during its Afghanistan rotation. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DOD HIMARS and GMLRS to UkrainePublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer: the United States sent HIMARS to Ukraine and described the launcher package as carrying six GPS-guided GMLRS rockets. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Joint MLRS and GMLRS Statement for UkrainePublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer: the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany committed MLRS systems and GMLRS rockets or ammunition to Ukraine for accurate fires at approximately 70 km. | Accessed: 2026-07-07DOD GMLRS and HIMARS Ukraine BriefingPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use: U.S. defense officials said Ukrainian forces used GMLRS for precision strikes against Russian command-and-control, logistics, and sustainment facilities. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Army 50,000th GMLRS RocketPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports GMLRS production milestone, variant family context, and continued evolution of the guided rocket family. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Lockheed Martin Delivers 75K GMLRS RocketsPublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports the 75,000th GMLRS delivery milestone and current production-ramp context. | Accessed: 2026-07-07High Mobility Rocket System StrikePublisher: Combined Joint Task Force - 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use: U.S. Army HIMARS units fired rockets as they assisted Iraqi Security Forces advancing on Mosul. | Accessed: 2026-07-07U.S. Army Soldiers Conduct Rocket Strikes Against ISIS in SyriaPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use: U.S. Army HIMARS units fired for Syrian Democratic Forces partners in Syria. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Rocket Launched During Training ExercisePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use: U.S. Army soldiers fired a GMLRS rocket from HIMARS in Northeast Syria while deployed in support of CJTF-OIR; also supports public-domain image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Soldiers Load GMLRS RocketsPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use: U.S. Army soldiers loaded GMLRS rockets on a HIMARS in Northeast Syria; also supports public-domain image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-07HIMARS Rocket LaunchPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct use: U.S. Army soldiers fired a GMLRS rocket from HIMARS while deployed in support of CJTF-OIR; also supports public-domain image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-07-07