UK Ministry of Defence, The Royal Artillery's newest long range precision land attack rocket has been fired for the first time on operations in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.
The state of the art Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), nicknamed the '70km Sniper', provides pinpoint accuracy delivering a 200lb high explosive warhead to its target, with twice the range of other artillery systems used by the British Army.
Operated by Gunners from 39 Regiment Royal Artillery 'The Welsh Gunners' based in Newcastle, GMLRS can strike targets as far as 70km away, with absolute accuracy and in all weathers.
Deployed in several locations throughout Helmand province, the Global Positioning System (GPS) guided rockets contain the latest advanced computer technology giving them unsurpassed accuracy. The system takes far fewer rockets to defeat targets, whilst also reducing the risk of collateral damage.
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On route to its new home in Helmand Province the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System in convoy as it moves through desert
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The weapon system is manned by a small crew of three Gunners and is mounted on a tracked armoured launcher, which is highly robust and manoeuvrable.
The launcher easily copes with the harsh environment and challenging terrain found in southern Afghanistan and has been used to target enemy bunkers in southern Helmand. GMLRS is ideally suited to destroying this type of enemy position and a single missile can be used, whereas in the past conventional artillery may have required multiple rounds.
Major Paul Jones, Commander of 35 Battery, 39 Regiment Royal Artillery said:
“The first firing of GMLRS on operations is a momentous step for the Royal Artillery. Complex counter-insurgency operations like the one ongoing in Afghanistan at the moment, require the support of local nationals to succeed.
“This calls for weapons systems that reduce collateral damage and reduce the long-term effects on the environment. GMLRS is the perfect weapon system for such an operation. It's early days yet, but the system has already proved itself in theatre.”
The launchers, support vehicles and crews are a small, well-trained team. GMLRS units require a disproportionately small amount of logistical support in return for the accurate strike capability they provide.
GMLRS has been delivered to the Royal Artillery in Afghanistan following a series of successful trials earlier this year. Training, pre deployment exercises, including live firing in the USA, and the operational deployment were all completed by June.
Based on the old Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), which saw action in the first Gulf War, the equipment has undergone a major upgrade. The launcher has a new more powerful engine, state of the art computer systems and the missile is fitted with the latest GPS guidance systems.
The delivery of these systems is the first element in an incremental programme worth over £250m which will see the UK take delivery of several thousand rockets by the end of the decade. The GMLRS rocket has been developed by a five-nation collaboration of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the US.
