On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of State approved a potential sale to the Kingdom of Sweden of a batch of M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) multiple launch rocket systems, together with munitions, in a package valued at up to 930 million USD.
A U.S. Marine Corps M142 HIMARS after sea transport aboard the Swedish support vessel HSwMS Loke during the BALTOPS 24 exercise in Sweden / Photo: Försvarsmakten
According to the published notification, the government in Stockholm requested approval to acquire 20 M1140 launchers of the M142 HIMARS system, 35 six-pack launch pods with M31A2 GMLRS guided rockets, 35 launch pods with M30A2 GMLRS rockets in the AW (Alternative Warhead) variant, 35 launch pods with M403 Extended Range (ER)-GMLRS AW rockets, 35 launch pods with EM404 ER-GMLRS rockets, 20 MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, and 24 IFATDS (International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems) information-exchange system sets.
In addition, the package includes items classified as non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment), including an undisclosed number of launch pods with M28A2 LCRRPR (Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket) training rockets with a range of 7.5–14.3 km, AN/PRC-158 and AN/PRC-160 radios, SKL cryptographic modules, advanced GNSS/GPS navigation receivers, interactive electronic technical manuals, integration support services, spare parts, tool kits, test equipment, contractor logistics support (from Lockheed Martin), training and training equipment, technical assistance, technical publications, transportation, and other related logistics and program support elements.
Today, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed in an interview with SVT that the United States is ready to sell the systems if Sweden decides to purchase them, but no decision on acquiring M142 HIMARS has yet been made.
Analysis
The Swedish Army (Svenska Armén) currently does not operate any multiple launch rocket systems, and in the field artillery segment it operates 24 wheeled Artillerisystem 08 howitzers, known as Archer – FH77BW L52 155 mm, mounted on a Volvo A30D 6×6 chassis, with 48 additional units contracted on the RMMV HX2 8×8 chassis, along with Modular Charge System propellant modules from Hanwha Aerospace.
Fire support is also provided by Granatkastarpansarbandvagn 90 (Grkpbv 90) Mjölner 120 mm self-propelled mortars – 40 currently in service and 40 more ordered under contracts signed in 2019 and 2023. Sweden also operates Eldledningsvagn 90A/C artillery observation vehicles (34 and 8 units respectively), based on the Stridsfordon 90 (CV90) infantry fighting vehicle chassis.
In recent months, several countries have decided to purchase M142 HIMARS and received the necessary approval, including Canada (26 units) and Bahrain (4 units). Meanwhile, Estonia will increase its fleet from 6 to 12 launchers, Australia from 42 to 90, and Taiwan from 28 to 57. Belgium is also potentially seeking multiple launch rocket systems, although it has not yet specified a particular system. Deliveries of HIMARS are also expected to begin soon for Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, and Italy.
Meanwhile, neighboring Norway recently decided to acquire the competing K239 Chunmoo systems from South Korea, after the United States refused to sell PrSM ballistic missiles for HIMARS. The Korean solution has also been selected by regional M142 users Poland and Estonia. It is also known that Hanwha Aerospace is offering the system to Sweden, meaning that U.S. approval for HIMARS does not yet determine the final outcome. This is particularly relevant given that another alternative gaining popularity in Europe is the Israeli PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System), for which Elbit Systems has already found customers in Germany, Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia (among publicly known operators).
