The weapons system that seems to be changing the tide in Ukraine.
- Click here for the entry.
Development
The HIMARS was developed as a private venture by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to meet a U.S. Army requirement. The system first appeared publicly in 1993. In 1996, the U.S. Army Missile Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $23.2 million contract to build four prototypes. The vehicles were delivered to the XVIII Airborne Corps for a two-year evaluation. In July 1998, the Army conducted a test firing of the ATACMS. In December 1999, the Aviation and Missile Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $65 million contract for engineering and manufacturing development. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin delivered six HIMARs in late 2001 for Army evaluation. In April 2003, the Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $96 million contract to begin low-rate initial production. Around this time, the Marine Corps placed an order for two units for evaluation purposes.
