Pentagon Outlines $200 Million Plan to Accelerate HIMARS Production

The Pentagon has said a $200 million plan to expand and accelerate production of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, is in motion.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition William LaPlante spoke about the plan after a visit to Lockheed Martin facilities in Camden, Arkansas that produce HIMARS and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), according to a news release from the Department of Defense (DoD).

Ukraine is "effectively employing" the lightweight mobile launchers and precision-strike munitions produced in the facilities, it said.

"As we continue providing security assistance to Ukraine, we are working with industry to accelerate production of critical weapons and systems," LaPlante said.

"This includes providing funding to buy more equipment, expand production lines, and support additional hiring and workforce development."

LaPlante said almost $400 million has been received "to replenish HIMARS and GMLRS in DOD stocks."

He added: "In addition, we are planning nearly $200 million to expand and accelerate production and are anticipating contract awards this fall and early next year."

Ukrainian officials say they have been using U.S.-supplied HIMARS to carry out successful strikes.

Those strikes have taken out bridges in the Kherson region and could pave the way for a counteroffensive to liberate the region from Russian forces, they said on Monday.

In its update on Monday, the U.K Ministry of Defense said "Ukrainian long-range precision strikes continue to disrupt Russian resupply" in the region.

LaPlante's visit came after President Joe Biden announced almost $3 billion in new military aid to Ukraine on August 24, six months after Russia's invasion of the country.

In a statement, Biden said the aid would allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and munitions, drones and other equipment "to ensure it can continue to defend itself over the long term."

The latest military aid package will include an unspecified number of anti-drone systems called Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment, or VAMPIRE, Newsweek previously reported.

"The United States of America is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they continue the fight to defend their sovereignty," the president added.

LaPlante said U.S. officials "will continue to closely consult with Ukraine on capability needs—and as President Biden has said, our goal is straightforward: The United States wants to see a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further aggression.

"In all of these efforts, I hope it is clear there is, and will continue to be, a strong demand signal for all of our partners in industry."