KMW delivers first rocket launcher MARS II to German artillery school
In the presence of the vice president of the Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement, Reinhard Schütte, the artillery school in Idar Oberstein, Germany, received its first MARS II rocket launching system in the Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) edition. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) thereby delivered a fully modernised combat system with an increased combat efficacy just 2¼ years after the signing of the pre-series-contract in December 2008.
"With the rocket launcher MARS II and the guided artillery rocket GMLRS UNITARY we now have an efficient means with the necessary precision and outstanding range, which finally allows us to complete the tasks assigned to us under almost any condition and that with the desired effect," said Brigadier General Heribert Hupka, commander of the artillery school and General of the artillery troops in Germany.
More than 2.300 implemented new parts, 300 metres of integrated wiring per vehicle for a fully electric drive and a quality inspection covering more than 450 hours per launching system are not only stand for a guaranteed sustainability, but also ensure an unmatched functionality and targeting precision on missions. The rocket launcher MARS II with the guided artillery rocket GMLRS UNITARY thereby offers a device that combines highest precision and maximum range. With the delivery of the first rocket launcher the schooling will commence immediately at the artillery school. After the completion of final tests within the scope of a field test the system is due for compliance testing next month at the White Sands Missile Range in the southern USA.
The rocket launcher MARS is in service with the artillery troop for over 25 years now. Conceptualised and optimised for the combating of large surface area targets under cold war circumstances, it was adapted to the considerably changed requirements of current as well as future threat scenarios and subsequently upgraded. Today, it takes effect on targets faster and more accurately than ever before - and will be an efficient partner in general or functional gunfights in future conflict scenarios within the framework of network-centric warfare.
Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH
More from Land Warfare
-
![Lithuanian 1st Division to achieve initial operating capability in 2026]()
Lithuanian 1st Division to achieve initial operating capability in 2026
Lithuania is one of the countries stepping up its defences in the face of the war in Ukraine with a particular focus on its neighbour and Russian ally Belarus, which has been making incursions into Lithuania’s airspace with balloons and drones.
-
![Beyond Survivability: How Active Protection Systems Are Empowering Commanders (Podcast)]()
Beyond Survivability: How Active Protection Systems Are Empowering Commanders (Podcast)
As threats diversify and intensify, APS are proving essential not just for vehicle protection but also for enhancing operational freedom, effectiveness and mission success in contested environments.
-
![Medium knocked out of British Army LMP, with CAVS as heavyweight champion]()
Medium knocked out of British Army LMP, with CAVS as heavyweight champion
As the British Army seeks to modernise and consolidate its diverse vehicle fleet, yet another change in direction is underway.
