Following the announced On June 1, 2022, by the decision of the United States to transfer the M142 HIMARS ground-based missile systems with GMLRS precision missiles to Ukraine as military assistance, it became known about the intentions of Germany and Great Britain to transfer to Ukraine, from the presence of their armed forces, upgraded missile systems (multiple launch rocket systems) of American production M270 MLRS, also capable of using GMLRS missiles.
The combat vehicle of the MARS II missile system (an upgraded version of the M270 MLRS) of the German army fires unguided missiles of German design with a cluster warhead with anti-tank mines AT2 (c) Marco Dorow / Bundeswehr
The German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, citing German government circles, reported on June 1 that the German government intends to transfer four MARS II missile systems to Ukraine - this is the German designation of the modernized American MLRS M270 MLRS with the possibility of using guided missiles M31 GMLRS. The MARS II complexes should be transferred to the German company Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), while the corresponding agreement with the United States "was reached as soon as possible." Delivery of the complexes to Ukraine is expected by the end of June.
We would like to point out that from 2011 to 2022, KMW upgraded 40 of the 158 MLRS M270 MLRS combat vehicles previously received by the Bundeswehr (German designation Mittleres Artillerieraketensystem - MARS) to the MARS II variant. The MARS II combat vehicle (LRU), when upgraded, is equipped with a new EFCS (European Fire Control System) fire control system developed by Airbus Defense and Space and allows firing guided missiles of the GMLRS family. Apparently, the last four combat vehicles that have completed the modernization to the MARS II level, which are still on KMW, should be transferred to Ukraine.
A feature of MARS II is the use of American guided missiles M31 and M31A1 GMLRS with monoblock warheads, as well as German-made missiles with a cluster warhead in the form of 28 anti-tank mines AT2, now in its composition, in addition to the Bundeswehr.
In turn, according to American and British media, the United Kingdom has asked the United States for permission to transfer to Ukraine the upgraded M270B1 MLRS missile systems of American production from the presence of the British armed forces. If this permission is obtained (which there is no doubt about), then the UK, as stated, will become the first country to actually transfer American-made MLRS to Ukraine (that is, their transfer is planned earlier than from the United States and Germany). The British Army is currently armed with 44 combat vehicles of the M270B1 MLRS complex, which are an analogue of the American upgraded version of the M270A1 with the installation of a new fire control system IFCS (Improved Fire Control System), which allows the use of high-precision missiles, but with improved armor and mine protection compared to the American model. Since the beginning of 2022, a new program for the modernization of 44 British M270B1 MLRS combat vehicles has been launched for four years. It provides for the installation of a new armored cabin, the replacement of tracks and the modernization of the fire control system for the use of GMLRS-ER and PrSM missiles.
The combat vehicle of the MARS II missile system (an upgraded version of the M270 MLRS) of the German Army launches the guided missile M31 GMLRS of American production (c) Mario Bähr / Bundeswehr
Combat vehicle of the upgraded M270B1 MLRS missile system of the British Army (c) Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom
