When the first salvos from American HIMARS rocket launchers appeared in the Ukrainian sky in the summer of 2022, it was much more than just a new weapon in the hands of the defenders. A phenomenon was born on the front lines, watched in real time by armies and governments around the world. Precise strikes, media coverage, and visible impact transformed HIMARS from a little-known system into a symbol of the modern artillery revolution and one of the most successful "advertisements" for the American arms industry in recent years.

Ukraine has become a laboratory for modern warfare and a showcase for weapons that until now have often existed mainly in the pages of export catalogs. Air defense systems, drones, armored vehicles, and missile systems are undergoing the toughest possible test here: combat against a technologically advanced adversary in a large-scale conventional conflict.

Of the entire range of Western weapons that have appeared on the front lines, however, none has become a symbol as quickly as the American M142 HIMARS. This six-barrel rocket launcher, developed by Lockheed Martin, was originally created as a mobile supplement to heavier MLRS systems.

Dozens of these systems were delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2024. HIMARS thus enabled the Ukrainians to wage a highly accurate artillery war for the first time, in which speed, accuracy, and information play a role. Not just the amount of ammunition fired.

However, success on the battlefield also had economic and political implications. During the first year after HIMARS was deployed, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) received a record number of requests to purchase it. The "Ukrainian experience" thus became a practical argument that no marketing campaign could replace.

The uniqueness of the HIMARS system

The American M142 HIMARS is a lightweight, highly mobile rocket launcher system capable of striking targets at distances of tens to hundreds of kilometers with exceptional accuracy. It was developed by Lockheed Martin in the late 1990s in response to the need of American troops for a faster and more mobile variant of the heavy M270 MLRS system, which is built on a tracked chassis. In contrast, HIMARS uses the wheeled platform of an FMTV 6×6 truck, which significantly reduces its weight and logistical demands. It can also be transported by C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

Technical and tactical parameters

Each vehicle carries a container with six GMLRS rockets, one ATACMS, or two PrSMs.

• GMLRS range: approximately 43–53 miles
• ATACMS range: up to 300 km
• PrSM range: 499+ km (potentially up to 1000 km)

All these capabilities enable the system to hit its target and change position in an instant, a tactic known as "shoot and scoot." In practice, this means that HIMARS fires a salvo (or a single precision-guided missile), vacates its position, and evades retaliatory fire before the enemy has time to react. This principle has proven to be crucial in Ukraine, where Russian forces have extensive reconnaissance and artillery capabilities. HIMARS is a system that combines the firepower of heavy artillery with the mobility of a light armored vehicle. It is a capability that modern armies have long sought.

Another reason for HIMARS' success is its modular design and considerable compatibility with NATO standards. It uses the same ammunition as the older M270 MLRS, which simplifies supply and training. In addition, the launch container can be replaced in a matter of minutes using an integrated hydraulic arm. The system is designed to require minimal manpower (a three-member crew) and can be deployed in any terrain. It is this simplicity and reliability, combined with digital fire control, that makes HIMARS a popular export item today.

Market impact: HIMARS as a "combat-proven product"

The deployment of the HIMARS system in Ukraine had an impact that went far beyond the military framework of the conflict. When footage of precision strikes on Russian ammunition depots, bridges, and command posts began to appear on social media and news sites, a new chapter in the history of weapons marketing was born. A weapon that had previously remained in the shadow of more famous armored vehicles and aircraft became a global symbol of modern artillery superiority.

Experts from think tanks such as IISS and CSIS talk about the "Ukraine effect." This is a phenomenon whereby the success of a particular system in real combat immediately triggers an avalanche of political and industrial reactions. The US agency DSCA, which manages arms exports under the Foreign Military Sales program, has seen a sharp increase in requests for approval to purchase the HIMARS system and related ammunition since 2022. Interest has been concentrated primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, where countries have seen HIMARS not only as an effective means of strengthening their defenses, but also as a clear political signal of loyalty to the American security "ecosystem."

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, HIMARS systems were also in service or on order (except in the US) in Romania (54), Taiwan (11), Singapore (18), the United Arab Emirates (12), Poland (20), and Jordan (12). However, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the situation began to change rapidly. Poland decided on an extremely ambitious purchase of an additional 486 launchers as part of its domestic HOMAR-A program. Lithuania (8), Latvia (6), Estonia (6), Italy (21), Bahrain (4), Croatia (8), Canada (26), Morocco (18), Norway (16), and Australia (up to 90) became additional customers who accelerated their decisions precisely because of the Ukrainian experience. This trend clearly shows that the Ukrainian battlefield has largely turned into a showroom for the American arms industry. Paradoxically, a place of destruction has become a space for commercial inspiration.

The industry's response was not long in coming. Lockheed Martin, the system's manufacturer, announced an increase in production capacity in 2023. From approximately fifty sets per year to almost double that amount. At the same time, the production of GMLRS guided ammunition, which is the main "consumable" item of the entire system, tripled. The Pentagon has included HIMARS among its key export priorities and designated it as a tool for strengthening alliance interoperability. In other words, it is not just a source of revenue for Lockheed Martin, but an investment in the geopolitical influence of the United States. It is this geopolitical dimension that is often overlooked in the HIMARS phenomenon. Every new country that purchases the system also becomes part of a broader American infrastructure. From operator training and service support to ammunition supplies, which are subject to strict export controls.

The success of HIMARS has also increased pressure on the competition. European and Asian companies are trying to offer alternatives. Examples include the Israeli PULS system, the French LRU, and the South Korean K239 Chunmoo. However, none of them has yet managed to achieve such media and symbolic relevance. The Ukrainian battlefield has given HIMARS not only the hallmark of "battle-proven," but also an aura of technological superiority that cannot be replaced by laboratory tests or marketing campaigns.

From an economic point of view, HIMARS has become a textbook example of a weapon that has managed to translate operational success into commercial triumph. Politically, it serves as a means of strengthening ties between the US and its allies. And symbolically, it serves as a reminder that in modern warfare, a single precision strike can have a greater impact than a thousand unguided salvos, not only on the battlefield but also on global markets.