Ben Collins

"It's called the Improved Launcher Mechanical System [ILMS], which helps us to elevate and slew the launcher," Ben Collins, Lockheed Martin business development manager, explained.

Briefing on the MLRS and related program activities, Collins said, "We've been able to take that elevation and slew time down from over a minute to just seconds.
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"We've taken those M270A1 improvements and applied them for the HIMARS," Collins said.
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The Guided MLRS rocket, for example, which Collins described as "a good success story for international programs," uses GPS guidance technology to achieve "meter-level accuracy" at firing ranges of more than 60 km.

The universal dispenser is "one alternative we've brought forth to the Army," said Ben Collins, manager of business development at Lockheed Martin."It's half the cost of the current block II dispenser system."During a recent interview, Collins explained that this dispenser would give commanders more flexibility, because it would allow them to fire the missile with fewer than 13 BATs and to substitute the BAT with other munitions, such as the SADARM, the wide-area munition, the BLU-108, the LOCAAS or even 155mm or 105mm artillery shells.

The universal dispenser was developed with Lockheed internal funding, said Collins.The company has received many inquiries about it from other countries, he added.

Firing a fully loaded ATACMS with 13 BATS is an expensive proposition, at about $1 million per shot.The ability to load the missile with fewer munitions makes financial sense, said Collins.
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"Over 10 years, you could replace the whole stockpile," said Collins.

The company, meanwhile, is sketching new concepts for the next generation of TACMS, which would be part of the Army's objective force of 2020."It may not look anything like the current system," said Collins."It could be smaller and more lethal."The Army has not specified any requirements yet.

Given the success in the TACMS unitary program, Collins expects that a follow-on missile would use joint Army/Navy munitions.No matter what the "objective force" looks like, he said, "You always will need a system to go deep."