HIMARS rocket artillery is at risk of being 'dethroned' by an unknown missile system

Going against many NATO allies, the Netherlands is switching to the Israeli-made PULS (Precision and Multipurpose Launch System) instead of the famous US HIMARS rocket artillery system.

HIMARS - symbol of modern warfare

The HIMARS high-mobility artillery rocket system is a 6x6 truck mounted with a cluster of six GPS-guided 227mm M31 GMRL rockets capable of hitting targets 50 miles (80.4 km) away with airstrike accuracy.

The 17-ton M142 is the more transportable sibling of the 26.5-ton M270 MLRS, which carries two of the same missile launchers. The M142 can also launch the MGM-140 ATACMS tactical ballistic missile, which has a range of 190 miles (305.7 km).

M270 HIMARS system with 2 guided missile launchers or tactical warheads

Since 2022, the US has delivered at least 38 HIMARS systems to Ukraine, equipped with GMRLS missiles rather than ATACMS missiles. The initial successes of HIMARS on the battlefield have brought Washington a series of new orders including Australia (20), Estonia (6), Latvia (6), Lithuania (8) and Poland with options to buy up to 486 units. Previously, only Taiwan (China) and Romania owned this rocket artillery system.

Ignoring the popular and battle-tested system may not be an easy choice, given its similarity to the M270 HIMARS systems used by NATO allies. In fact, the Netherlands also owns nine M270 systems, meaning they are more familiar with the system.

In February, the US agreed to sell the Netherlands 20 M142 HIMARS systems, 77 loaded missile launchers, ATACMS missiles and 17 support vehicles for $670 million. However, Israel is offering $133 million for 20 PULS systems, one-fifth the price of the US system, including missiles and rockets for combat and training.

Multipurpose alternative

The Netherlands is not the only NATO country operating PULS, with Denmark placing an order for eight units, along with the $70 million Acceler-122 missile, in January. Germany is also considering the possibility of equipping its military with the rocket system. Having more allies use the same system could facilitate maintenance, training, and ammunition production.

PULS can be seen as a more feature-rich alternative to HIMARS's capabilities, at a lower cost. The default configuration of PULS carries two missile launchers compared to HIMARS' one. After firing, the launcher can be replaced in under 10 minutes.

The PULS complex is easily installed on vehicles that combine many types of missiles to serve many different combat purposes at a cheaper cost than HIMARS.

Unlike HIMARS, PULS can be bolted onto a variety of vehicles, opening up the possibility of utilizing the available vehicles in the customer's inventory. The predecessor of this system is the IMI (Israel Military Industries) 6x6 Lynx rocket launcher truck. The IDF artillery unit operates PULS on Oshkosh 8x8 HEMTT trucks under the name Lahav (blade).

Compared to HIMARS, PULS guided missiles are more accurate within the same budget. The system also carries more missiles, which allows it to operate longer in the field. In addition, PULS has an open architecture that can accommodate new types of ammunition from European manufacturers in the near future. This contributes to increasing Europe's strategic autonomy. Dutch Minister of Defense Christophe Van der Maat

In addition, PULS can mount six different types of guided and unguided ammunition. At the rear, the system can mount two sealed chambers, each containing 18 122mm rockets, the “standard” caliber of the global BM-21 Grad rocket launcher of Soviet origin. The Grad is cheap and has a range of up to 25 miles (40.2 km).

Easily upgrade range and firepower

The crew can switch to using the Israeli-made GPS-guided Accular-122 missile, also known as Romach (spearhead), produced in 2017 for the customized M270 Menatetz launchers.

This missile has a shorter range of about 22 miles, but an average accuracy of 5-10 meters, making it a mini-HIMARS in cases where the risk to civilians needs to be minimized. The missile leaves the launch pad within 1 minute of receiving it, and comes in both fragmentation and wall-penetrating warhead versions.

The PULS complex was researched and developed by the Israeli defense company Elbit.

Firepower can be augmented with alternative launchers, each carrying 13 160mm rockets (26 in total) from the Israeli LAR-160 rocket system. At this point, PULS has a range of 28 miles, and 25 miles with the guided Accuracy-160 version.

To engage targets at greater distances, PULS can mount two launchers, holding four 306mm EXTRA guided missiles with a range of 93 miles. HIMARS will also achieve this range in the next few years with the 227mm GMLRS-ER variant entering mass production this year.

At even greater ranges, PULS can launch the Predator Hawk tactical ballistic missile, which has a range of 186 miles, comparable to the US ATACMS. It can hit targets at maximum range in 8 minutes (average speed of Mach 1.8) with a 308-pound warhead. Both the EXTRA and Predator HAWK missiles have an accuracy of about 10 meters.

The Delilah subsonic cruise missile is also a warhead that can be launched from this system, although it flies lower and slower, with a maximum range of 155 miles, but is more accurate. However, Israel does not appear to have exported Delilah to date.

For comparison, PULS can launch eight 300mm rockets compared to six 227mm rockets of HIMARS, or it can carry four tactical rockets instead of one compared to the US system.

Compared to Soviet-era artillery systems, PULS is as effective as the BM-21, BM-27 and BM-30 missile systems, as well as the older OTR-21 Tochka missile family.

(According to PopularMechanics)

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