The United States has cleared a $930-million arms sale to supply M142 HIMARS rocket launchers and related systems to Sweden, according to approval from the United States Department of State.
The package, which includes equipment produced by Lockheed Martin, is intended to strengthen Sweden’s artillery strike capabilities and improve operational coordination with US and NATO forces. Stockholm has requested 20 HIMARS launchers along with 35 pods each of M31A2 GMLRS unitary rockets, M30A2 GMLRS Alternative Warhead rockets, M403 Extended Range GMLRS pods, and M404 Extended Range GMLRS unitary pods.
Additional items in the package include 20 M57 Army Tactical Missile System pods, 24 International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, practice rocket pods, AN/PRC‑158 radio and AN/PRC‑160 radio systems, advanced GPS receivers, and various support and logistics elements.
About the HIMARS System
The M142 HIMARS is a highly mobile rocket artillery platform capable of firing six guided rockets or a single tactical missile from a single launch pod. It uses the same family of munitions as the tracked M270 MLRS, enabling strikes against high-value targets at long ranges.
The launcher can be quickly transported by a Lockheed C‑130 Hercules aircraft, making it suitable for rapid deployment operations. Its shoot-and-scoot capability enables the vehicle to relocate immediately after firing to avoid counterattacks.
The system gained global attention during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which contributed to increased demand for long-range rocket artillery. In 2025, the US also approved HIMARS sales to Australia, Bahrain, and Canada.
Despite Lockheed Martin expanding production capacity to 96 launchers per year in 2024, delivery schedules remain tight as demand continues to grow worldwide, with Estonia and other countries planning additional purchases.
