Poland buys approximately 500 units of M142 HIMARS MLRS

The Armed Forces of Poland will receive almost five hundred American HIMARS missile systems.

Mariusz Blaszczak, Minister of Defense of Poland, announced this.

The new weaponry is needed to strengthen the missile forces and artillery of the Polish army.

Through the purchase of the M142 HIMARS, the country launched the implementation of a missile program called “Homar”.

Zwiększamy zdolności wojsk rakietowych i artylerii! Podpisałem zapytanie ofertowe LOR dot. pozyskania około 500 wyrzutni M142 #HIMARS na potrzeby ponad 80 baterii systemu #HOMAR. Planujemy wysoki poziom polonizacji sprzętu i jego integrację z polskim systemem zarządzania walką. pic.twitter.com/q0xdxBgUiy

— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) May 26, 2022

Over 80 newly formed batteries of the Polish army’s rocket artillery will be armed with these weapons.

“We are increasing the capabilities of missile troops and artillery! I signed a request to purchase approximately 500 M142 HIMARS MLRS for the needs of over 80 HOMAR system batteries.

We plan a high level of polonization of equipment and its integration with the Polish system of combat control,” said Blaszczak.

During the implementation of the Homar program, Poland plans to localize the production of many components of M142 HIMARS launchers at the companies in its defense industry.

Polish Homar missile program based on the American HIMARS

Details of the Polish missile program Homar were first released in 2017. Back then, the total cost of the program was estimated at 8-10 billion Polish zlotys.

Unlike the Romanian HIMARS procurement program, the Polish approach is distinguished by a significant degree of component manufacturing localization directly in Poland.

Localization meant including the production of the vehicle’s chassis that would be manufactured in Poland.

At the time, it was assumed that the unit would include vehicles with 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 wheeled formulas of the Jelcz vehicle models 442.32 S04, 442.32 S02, and 442.32 P06, which are already used by the Polish military. This would allow the unification of the fleet of military vehicle equipment.

The program also accounted for the missiles for the HIMARS system to be produced in Poland.

M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) uses a 6-wheel M1140 FMTV tactical truck.