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Europe Strengthens Its Saturation Strikes: MLRS at the Core of Long Range Artillery Renewal.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has profoundly transformed artillery doctrines in Europe. The massive use of long-range firepower, combined with real-time ISR capabilities, has brought multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) back to the forefront, after having been largely neglected by European armies. Whereas many countries had reduced or even eliminated this capability after the Cold War, the trend has now reversed. Today, several European NATO members are reequipping themselves with modern systems for saturation fire and precision strikes at medium range. Three major models dominate this renewed push for capability: the American M142 HIMARS, the South Korean K239 Chunmoo, and the Israeli PULS.
New wheeled MLRS face off against older tracked models as Europe modernizes its firepower (Picture source: US DoD/ Elbit Systems/ Polish MoD/ Uk MOD)
The war in Ukraine has elevated the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to the status of a benchmark system. Capable of firing both GMLRS rockets (with a range of 70–80 km and a precision of 10 meters CEP) and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles (with a range of up to 300 km), it has proven its effectiveness against logistical hubs, headquarters, and troop concentrations. Several European countries have followed suit in acquiring it.
Estonia signed a contract for six HIMARS equipped with ATACMS capabilities, valued at over 200 million USD, with deliveries expected from 2024. Lithuania followed with an order for eight HIMARS under a 495 million USD contract, with deliveries anticipated starting in 2025. Latvia formalized a contract for six systems worth 194.47 million USD, with delivery scheduled for 2027. All these acquisitions are made through Lockheed Martin, reinforcing the American group’s position within the European precision artillery market.
Mounted on a 6x6 truck chassis and operated by a small crew, the HIMARS can fire six guided rockets or a single ATACMS missile at a time. Its easy integration into NATO C2 networks, air transportability, and simplified maintenance make it a preferred system for expeditionary forces or smaller armies seeking medium-range precision strike capabilities.
Poland, having already ordered HIMARS in 2019, diversified its suppliers following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It signed two large contracts for the South Korean K239 Chunmoo system, designated Homar-K in its Polish version.
The first contract, signed in November 2022, covers 218 launchers for 3.55 billion USD, with deliveries scheduled between 2023 and 2027. A second contract, signed in April 2024, adds 72 additional units for 1.6 billion USD, with deliveries expected between 2026 and 2029. This brings the total to 290 systems, making it the largest MLRS acquisition in Europe since the Cold War.
The Chunmoo system is mounted on an 8x8 truck and can fire a wide range of munitions, from 130 mm rockets to guided 239 mm missiles, with ranges between 36 km and nearly 290 km depending on the type of projectile used. It features a dual modular pod system that allows different munitions to be loaded based on mission requirements. Poland also plans to integrate nationally produced munitions, reflecting its aim for greater defense autonomy and industrial reinforcement.
Estonia signed a contract for six HIMARS equipped with ATACMS capabilities, valued at over 200 million USD, with deliveries expected from 2024 (Picture source: Estonian MoD)
The PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System), developed by Elbit Systems, offers an alternative adapted to the growing European need for MLRS capabilities. It is characterized by its modular flexibility, capable of firing a variety of munitions from 122 mm to 370 mm, including the EXTRA rockets (with a 150 km range and 10 meters CEP) and Accular.
Denmark signed a contract in 2023 for eight PULS launchers as part of a broader deal valued at 252 million USD, which also included ATMOS howitzers. The Netherlands ordered 20 PULS systems for 305 million USD, with deliveries scheduled between 2024 and 2027. Spain, as part of its national SILAM program, signed in 2024 for 12 PULS launchers, with a total value of 754.41 million USD, in partnership with Rheinmetall, Expal, and Estribano. The SILAM program (Sistema Lanzacohetes de Alta Movilidad) aims not to develop a new system from scratch but rather to locally produce the PULS under license and adapt it to Spanish operational standards.
Similarly, in Germany, Elbit Systems has partnered with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to develop the EuroPULS project. Beyond simple local assembly, EuroPULS aims to incorporate European munitions, a software architecture compatible with NATO networks, and launchers adapted to European land forces’ standards. The system is currently undergoing technical demonstrations and could eventually become part of Europe’s broader strategic defense projects.
The PULS is based on a 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis and can fire two different pods: for example, four EXTRA rockets of 150 km range or twenty Accular rockets of 35 km range. This multi-caliber capacity provides significant operational flexibility, from targeted strategic strikes to area saturation missions.
The Chunmoo system is mounted on an 8x8 truck and can fire a wide range of munitions, from 130 mm rockets to guided 239 mm missiles, with ranges between 36 km and nearly 290 km depending on the type of projectile used (Picture source: Polish MoD )
While many European countries are massively reinvesting in MLRS capabilities, a significant portion of their inventories remains characterized by Cold War-era systems. This notably includes M270 launchers still in service in Germany, France, and Italy, whose performance no longer meets current operational standards. Their modernized version, the LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire), although digitized and equipped with GMLRS munitions, remains limited to a range of about 70 km and cannot fire extended-range GMLRS-ER rockets or ATACMS ballistic missiles. In France, only between 13 and 18 operational units remain, significantly limiting deep strike capabilities.
In response, several initiatives are underway. The most concrete is the EuroPULS project led by Elbit Systems. In parallel, a Franco-German project for developing a new long-range strike capability is being discussed, potentially linked to the MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) program. However, no prototype has yet been revealed, and current efforts appear more focused on developing long-range drones, surface-to-surface missiles, and guided munitions, such as the KATANA program.
Beyond simple local assembly, EuroPULS aims to incorporate European munitions, a software architecture compatible with NATO networks, and launchers adapted to European land forces’ standards (Picture source: Army Recognition)
These rapid and large-scale MLRS procurements reflect a major doctrinal shift. Once considered imprecise, costly, and indiscriminate, rockets have regained a critical role, especially for counter-battery missions, logistical attrition, and disruption of rear-echelon command structures. The integration of MLRS with real-time intelligence sources (drones, satellites, counter-battery radars) heralds a new era of precision long-range indirect fires.
The resurgence of MLRS in European arsenals is primarily driven by their tactical effectiveness and operational versatility. Modern systems combine mobility, range, precision (with CEPs of less than 10 meters for guided munitions), and high-volume salvo capabilities. They can deliver devastating strikes within seconds and relocate immediately to avoid enemy counter-fire, making them effective tools for precision and area denial operations up to 300 km away.
Recent conflicts have demonstrated that deep strike capabilities, persistent effects on the battlefield, and the psychological impact of massed fires are again becoming decisive factors in high-intensity warfare. Unlike traditional artillery, which primarily supports maneuver forces, MLRS platforms now enable the disorganization of enemy structures at operational depth.
The diversity of suppliers — the United States, South Korea, and Israel — reflects Europe’s intention to diversify its strategic dependencies. However, it also raises major challenges in terms of interoperability, maintenance, and technological sovereignty. The development of an autonomous European capability, encompassing both launcher production and munitions manufacturing, remains an unmet strategic necessity.