---
title: "US Army Seeks 133,000 GMLRS Rockets by 2034"
url: https://www.herebeaufort.com/2026/08/19/us-army-gmlrs-rockets-production/
date: 2026-08-19T11:06:56+00:00
modified: 2026-08-19T11:06:56+00:00
author: "Meghan Sotelo"
categories: ["Public Safety"]
site: "HERE Beaufort"
attribution: "HERE Beaufort"
---

# US Army Seeks 133,000 GMLRS Rockets by 2034

*Source: [HERE Beaufort](https://www.herebeaufort.com/2026/08/19/us-army-gmlrs-rockets-production/) — August 19, 2026 by Meghan Sotelo*

The US Army has issued a request for the manufacturing of 133,014 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, rockets by 2034. This initiative aims to significantly increase the production of these ground-launched rockets amid concerns about existing stockpiles.

According to the Army’s Sources Sought notice, contractors have until September 1 to submit white papers detailing their plans to meet this substantial quota. The proposed timeline outlines a production rate of 19,002 rockets annually from 2028 to 2034, with the first deliveries anticipated to begin in February 2030.

The scope of the contract encompasses production, tooling, engineering change proposals, and various supporting activities for GMLRS rockets. This includes unitary, alternative warhead (AW), and extended range (ER) versions of the munitions. The Army emphasized that submissions must outline the most efficient and cost-effective methods for achieving the required production rate.

Current GMLRS manufacturer Lockheed Martin had previously announced plans to increase its production capacity to 14,000 rockets annually. The Army’s new plan would necessitate a nearly 36 percent increase in capacity beyond that figure. The Army has faced challenges in ramping up munitions production in the past, including a facility intended for 155mm shell components that ultimately failed to produce any parts.

GMLRS rockets are launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System armored vehicle and can also be fired from the smaller, truck-mounted M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, known as HIMARS. The standard GMLRS rocket has a range of 70 kilometers, while the extended-range version can reach up to 150 kilometers.

By 2024, Lockheed Martin had delivered 75,000 GMLRS rockets to the US Army. However, demand for these munitions has continued to outpace supply. Originally developed as Cold War weapons, these multiple rocket launchers have played a significant role in recent conflicts. The M270, HIMARS, and their GMLRS rockets have been instrumental in supporting Ukrainian resistance against the Russian invasion, targeting command posts, supply depots, and troop formations. Ukraine reportedly used HIMARS to strike a power plant within Russia in September of the previous year, though heavy Russian jamming of the GPS guidance system has since compromised some of the rockets’ effectiveness.

Deliveries to Ukraine and ongoing conflicts, such as with Iran, have depleted US stockpiles of GMLRS and other guided munitions. Replenishment efforts have been further complicated by a shortage of rocket motors.