HIMARS rocket launching system being developed at Redstone Arsenal
A rocket launcher used to help troops in Afghanistan is being worked on in Huntsville.
The army just celebrated the 400th vehicle made of it's kind, it's called the HIMARS rocket system.
"HIMARS" stands for high mobility artillery rocket system. It holds six rockets that can hit exact locations in any weather, from over 180 miles away.
Precise shooting from that distance means less risk for the three soldiers or marines on board.
"This allows us to actually hit them at ranges where they don't even know they're being fired at. And in the end it ultimately means we can save soldiers' lives by keeping them out of direct fire and allowing us to hit them with long range weapons systems like this," said Lt. Col. Fred Hughes, the HIMARS project manager.
Right now the army has 300 HIMARS launchers ready for combat. They can be loaded onto any Air Force cargo plane.
The army plans to build 75 more of these over the next two years, they'll continue to manage and improve the program at Redstone Arsenal.
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