Probably one of the biggest takeaways from the war in Ukraine so far is the importance of 'Long Range Precision Fires' aka long range guided rocket/missile artillery.

I figured we could examine what systems are currently out there, and which ones are emerging. 

The UK is currently modernizing its 70x M270 fleet:

https://armyrecognition.com/defense_news_june_2023_global_security_army_industry/british_m270_gmlrs_rocket_launchers_upgrade_paves_way_for_power_projection_till_2050.html

This will be able to fire the current GMLRS used in Ukraine, with potential to also field the coming GMLRS-ER (150km) and the coming PRSM ballistic missile (499-1000km).

However Think Defense has pointed out the UK is also looking into a 3rd possible munition, the Land Precision Strike:

https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2022/12/land-precision-strike/

The article highlights a number of interesting options for the LPS mission.

1. GMLRS with 4x BONUS / SMART style anti tank submunitions 

2. Rocket Glider. This could be the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb, or a more UK/EU option, a rocket boosted SPEAR. This could offer greater range, and opens up the option for an Electronic Warfare / jamming SPEAR to be used.

3. Dispensing Rocket Payload. This would be a rocker that then deploys either a Suicide Drone (UK Outrider is suggested) or an EW payload or a Surveilance payload.

4. MDBA Land Precision Strike. Not much is known about this, but may essentially be a longer range Brimstone missile.

On the EU (and potentially future UK) side, there is an interest in an alternative to the US M270 / HIMARS. The primary reason seems to be that these Lockheed systems only fire Lockheed missiles. 

An 'open source' missile truck is obviously much more attractive.

-Can (probably) fire current Lockheed offerings (GMLRS/GMLRS-ER; ATACMS, PRSM.)

-Can also fire European / UK / Israeli missiles. This increases missile availability, possibly reduces cost, increases EU domestic industry, and adds new capabilities.

-Can be integrated into EU made trucks for simplified logistics 

The leading contender for this HIMARS alternative is the Euro-PULS. This is a EU specific variant of the Israeli PULS system:

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_december_2022_global_security_army_industry/kmw_and_elbit_systems_establish_euro-puls_concept_for_next-generation_european_long_range_rocket_artillery.html

The PULS is interesting because it can potentially fire a wide variety of missiles.

Naval Strike Missile, which can also be used in the ground to ground role and has some stealthy abilities + 150-250km range.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/future-artillery-2023-knds-proposes-arming-europuls-mrl-with-nsm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Strike_Missile

There is also a new, German developed ground launched stealth cruise missile that could probably be fired from the PULS+HIMARS/M270, and has a 499km range. Called the Joint Fire Support Missile, 2x fit in a standard MFOM pod, so HIMARS will hold 2x, M270/MARS will hold 4x, and PULS will probably hold 4.

https://www.edrmagazine.eu/the-joint-fire-support-missile-an-mlrs-launched-cruise-missile-by-mbda

Its bizarre how EU arms industry seems can't do jack shit without piggybacking on Israeli developments these days , that are piggybacking on American developments themselves. What is next , Chinese trucks if MAN decides its not profitable to continue it military program?

Piggybacking on X product development is often limiting in itself and in the end wasting $$$ doesn't result in a product, Eurohawk probably being the prime example of absolute morons at work.

Mr. T (MrT4) said:

Its bizarre how EU arms industry seems can't do jack shit without piggybacking on Israeli developments these days , that are piggybacking on American developments themselves

Well its seemingly a matter of hindsight. For Europe, 'history had ended' from 1989-2022, as there was no sense of any plausible State level threat to the EU spurring lots of defense innovation. That left the US and Israel, and to a lesser extent Korea, as the leaders in the defense innovation for a lot of systems.

And even the US and Israel have only recently woken up to the superb capabilities and applications for long range precision fires.

I'm actually very impressed with the German developed 'Joint Fire Support Missile,' which seems to be a wholly German development with no US/Israel equivalent. A HIMARS launched stealth mini cruise missile with 499km range would be pretty useful in any number of applications.

https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/jfs_m_cruise_missile_for_himars_an_interesting_idea_from_mbda_that_demonstrates_the_trend_of_weapons_development-3885.html

That someways true, but Europe is a major firearms manufacturer and exporter, aside from maybe aerial stuff EU developed more weapon systems than the US ( aside from trucks there is practically no land systems developed in US in past 30 years , most of the post '91 ships and helos are also European) so its not like development stopped in '91 , aided by the fact that there is still at least a bit of competition with many manufacturers in EU vs practically no competition among arms manufacturers in US due to extreme consolidation of the industry.

Arms development is not limited to adoption by native armed forces. Of course that is more the case in real big-ticket items like fighter planes .

Even with fighter planes, you can see how the French reinvented the ole courruption'R'us scheme that was the trademark of Dassault in the past. absolutely smashing BAE at their game thanks to Britain not having much clout left in EU and US fucking up a bunch of the BAE deals on Gripen. Rafale went from absolute dead end to market success due to revised 'marketing practice'  , you want a soccer WC , buy Rafale you get WC gift wrapped to go (Katar) , you want to join Schengen buy Rafale (Croatia) , want some bags of cash (India), want to shore up your dictatorship, get aid meddling in Libya buy Rafale (Egypt) . want Eu backing against the Turks but are absolutely broke buy Rafale(Greece), a break from constant EU meddling buy Rafale( Serbia still pending) of course US not having leverage over its sales is a massive boost help as well.

Well, if you don't want to buy Chinese or Russian, and don't want to be at the tender mercies of US ITAR policies, Dassault/Rafale is the best game in town.

Is a more than decent and capable plane with a solid upgrade plan - something the rival Typhoon lacks.

Indeed that is true, even if Koreans and Turks field 5th gen fighter of their own anytime they will try to sell US will pull the Rug from under their feet due to large content of US parts.

Rafale is probably only one with a complete ITAR-free package , Eurofighter, on the other hand, is so underdeveloped an overpriced its not even a contender, overpriced and underperforming Austrian contract doesn't help with the rep either.

And the US can at any time torpedo/sink the Korean and Turkish planes, by just denying them access to US components. Not for export, even for home production.

In the words of Kissinger - being a US enemy is dangerous, being a US ally is deadly. (more or less, I don't remember the exact phrase)

paulobrito said:

Kissinger - being a US enemy is dangerous, being a US ally is deadly

I believe the actual saying was  "To be an enemy of the US is dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal"?

Yep, as I posted, I don't remember the phrase exactly, but the meaning is the same.