Army aims to produce 19,000 GMLRS rockets a year starting in FY-28

The Army intends to produce up to 19,002 rockets annually for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System starting in Fiscal Year 2028, and continuing through FY-32, according to a sources-sought notice posted today.

The notice asks for white papers “regarding the capabilities, past similar experience and technical approach” to producing all variants of GMLRS at the rate of 19,002 rockets per year, with deliveries to begin in February 2030. Over the five fiscal years between FY-28 and FY32, the Army would produce a total of up to 95,000 rockets, according to the schedule laid out in the notice.

Variants of GMLRS include the unitary warhead, which “provides precision strike with low collateral damage” as well as the alternative warhead variant that uses “pre-formed penetrators.” The extended-range version of GMLRS can carry either the unitary or alternative warhead variant, and doubles the maximum range from 70 to 150 km.

Responses to the notice are due May 8.

In the FY-23 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress gave the Pentagon multiyear procurement authorities for a host of weapon systems in response to the Ukraine-Russia war, including GMLRS.

Last September, former Army acquisition czar Doug Bush said the current GMLRS contract would convert to a multiyear in calendar year 2025. At that time, Bush said the Army was in the process of getting to a production rate of 14,000 per year.