Norway has been approved to buy up to 16 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers and more than 130 munitions pods of various types by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
Included in the approval are 15 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) pods with Insensitive Munitions Propulsion System (IMPS), 15 M31A2 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) high explosive pods with IMPS, and 100 M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) pods.
The total estimated cost of the package is $US580 million (~$880 million).
Australia has ordered 42 HIMARS launchers and more than 300 munitions pods for the launchers. Next year, Australia will start assembling GMLRS rockets from kits provided by the US, ahead of moving towards full-scale production for both Australian and international customers that could include Norway.
International customers will be key to the success of Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise as they will help generate economies of scale that can’t be met from within the Australian market alone.