On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State approved a potential sale to the Republic of Singapore of a batch of 227 mm GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) family guided rocket munitions for M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) multiple launch rocket systems, with a maximum value of 83.14 million USD.
M142 HIMARS launcher of the Singapore Army / Photo: Ministry of Defence of Singapore
According to the published information, the government of Singapore requested approval to acquire 45 six-pack launch pods containing M30A2 GMLRS guided rockets with the Alternative Warhead (AW) – a total of 270 missiles.
In addition, the package includes items classified as non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment), such as telemetry kits, engineering services, technical assistance, and other related logistics and program support elements. Lockheed Martin will serve as the prime contractor.
The M30A2 AW entered service in 2019 (with the earlier M30A1 produced between 2015 and 2019) and is equipped with an 89 kg warhead produced by ATK, featuring insensitive high explosive and containing 160,000 preformed fragments. The M30A2 AW is designed for area effects in counter-battery fire, engagement of air defense systems, command posts, and other high-value targets. Compared to the M30A1 AW, it differs by incorporating the safer IMPS (Insensitive Munition Propulsion System).
The Singapore Army’s 23rd Battalion operates 24 M142 HIMARS launchers. Approval to acquire the initial 18 systems was granted on September 12, 2007, at a cost of approximately USD 330 million. Deliveries began in July 2010, and the system was formally introduced into service on September 14, 2011. Along with the launchers, Singapore initially acquired 30 launch pods with 180 M31 Unitary GMLRS missiles, followed on October 29, 2013 by an additional 88 pods with 528 missiles and six more launchers.
On March 3, 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence officially announced plans to modernize its HIMARS systems. The upgrade aims to integrate more advanced ER GMLRS (Extended Range) rockets with a range of up to 150 km and potentially the PrSM (Precision Strike Missile) ballistic missiles with a range of up to 700 km, subject to U.S. approval (granted to Australia, but not to Norway, which instead ordered South Korean K239 Chunmoo systems – editor’s note). The modernization is intended to enhance long-range precision strike capabilities in the region. In 2017, Singapore also received TADS laser target designators, mobile battery command and data transmission systems, and AN/TPQ-53 Firefinder radars from Lockheed Martin.
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