Future Weapon Technology

Mfg: Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]

The MLRS provides massive amounts of firepower on the battlefield. Designed to have a longer range and greater lethality than enemy artillery systems, the possession of the MLRS creates a tremendous advantage for the allied forces. Traditional artillery, essentially a large cannon, is still employed by every modern army. However, on a wide open battlefield, the MLRS can wreak incomparable amounts of damage and fear upon enemy forces by firing guided rockets from a previously unimaginable distance. With a range of up to 300 kilometers using the most modern ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) class rockets, the MLRS can hit targets before they even think about being ready to fight a battle. With the capability of only one MLRS launcher, which can carry 12 rockets, to blanket a square kilometer with fragmentation warheads, the MLRS is designed to act as a stand-off front-line assault vehicle to take out entire enemy formations of troops or vehicles. Likewise, the MLRS has also been fitted unto the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) wheeled platform that has increased mobility and range, which decreases the likelihood of a successful enemy counterattack. With the newest technology on the battlefield, such as the MLRS, allied powers are reducing the time-frame of battles. Time is running out for the enemy to even tie their boots and line up before miles of their front-lines can be pulverized by missiles raining down from beyond the horizon. This phenomenon of destruction of earned the MLRS the nickname of the Steel Rain.

This MLRS video depicts multiple MLRS launchers firing rockets in anger during Desert Storm I.