HIMARS heads overseas for first time

For the first time, the Australian Army has deployed its high mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) launchers overseas, transporting the long-range weapons system from Darwin to Indonesia on a RAAF C-130J Hercules.

The inaugural activity comes as Australian and Indonesian forces participate in Exercise Keris Woomera, with two HIMARS launchers from 14 Regt RAA, taking part in the bilateral military exercise.

While HIMARS has previously been transported aboard a Hercules within Australia, this is the first time the Australian Army has rapidly deployed its long-range strike capability across the Indo-Pacific.

The deployment involved two forward projections by C-130J, first transporting the HIMARS launchers from Darwin to Banyuwangi Airport in East Java before moving them onward to Sam Ratulangi International Airport in Manado, North Sulawesi.

The live-fire phase of Exercise Keris Woomera will also mark the first overseas live-fire activity involving Australian HIMARS.

LT Darcy Salmon, a troop commander from 14 Regt RAA, said the exercise was an opportunity to test the logistics of moving HIMARS internationally.

“It’s important to test our capability,” LT Salmon said.

“Should we require it in the future for a real-life situation, we’ll have those tools to know that we can move them from Australia to any country.”

Weighing more than 16 tonnes when combat loaded, the six-wheeled rocket launcher requires careful planning and coordination between Army and Air Force personnel to transport it overseas.

The truck-mounted system can carry an ammunition pod of six guided multiple launch rockets (GMLRS) or two precision strike missiles (PrSM).

With the PrSM, HIMARS can engage targets at ranges of more than 500 kilometres, although its range varies depending on the munition. But getting the system within firing distance of a target is a logistical and tactical challenge of its own.

At about 7.8 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, the launcher takes up considerable space inside a Hercules, which has a maximum cargo payload of about 19.5 tonnes.

LT Salmon said soldiers from 14 Regt had worked closely with RAAF personnel and the ground security element provided by 2RAR and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces to develop the procedures required to load the launcher onto the aircraft.

For 14 Regt, the lessons from its first overseas HIMARS deployment will help inform how it prepares to move its long-range strike capability across the region in the future.

Exercise Keris Woomera runs from October 12 to 20, bringing together about 1000 ADF personnel and 1235 members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The exercise includes amphibious landings, live-fire training and joint operations in Indonesia.

See more images of the HIMARS during Exercise Keris Woomera.