The pick, offered by Elbit and KNDS, puts an end, for now, to a highly contested race for Germany’s next-generation, multiple-rocket launcher system.
www.defensenews.com
COLOGNE, Germany — The German army has received parliamentary approval to buy an initial batch of Elbit-made PULS rocket artillery systems, a decision that could see Berlin look to European munitions suppliers in the future.
The move, announced just before the Christmas holidays as part of a larger raft of funding approvals for Germany’s armed forces, means the Bundeswehr can spend roughly €65 million, or $68 million USD, on five systems.
The PULS pick, offered by
Elbit in conjunction with German-French contractor KNDS, puts an end, for now, to a highly contested race for Germany’s next-generation, multiple-rocket launcher system.
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall had pitched a competing offer, named GMARS, that came with the lineup of Lockheed’s munitions offerings, including the ubiquitous Guided MLRS rockets, baked into it.
The decision in favor of PULS is meant to deepen cooperation between German artillery forces and those of the neighboring Netherlands, which has previously purchased the Israeli product and whose contract provides a piggybacking option for Germany’s impending buy.
The PULS, which is short for Precise and Universal Launching System, allows for the deployment of a national fire-control system, thereby enabling user nations to pick their own munition types for integration, the spokesman added.
“Our MLRS Family of Munitions cannot be integrated into the PULS system — if Germany was to opt for PULS they could not gain access to our missiles,” he told Defense News on the sidelines of the Eurosatory defense trade show in Paris.
The same would apply to the U.S. Army’s newer Precision Strike Missile, which boasts a range of 500 kilometers and more, according to the company.
It’s unclear how prominent the assured access to Lockheed rockets is in Germany’s long-term defense planning, as German and European manufacturers have adjusted to a surge in demand for munitions of all ranges and propulsion types, guided and unguided.
In September, Elbit and Germany’s Diehl Defence signed a cooperation agreement tailored to PULS users in Europe and Germany in particular. In addition, pan-European missile maker MBDA is jockeying for position in the emerging market of longer-range weapons, deemed a critical element of Europe’s deterrence posture vis-à-vis Russia.
Elbit Missiles -
Accular 122 - 122mm, 35 km and 10 m CEP, 20-35 kg warheads
Accular 160 - 160mm, 45 km and 10 m CEP, 46 kg warhead
Extra - 306mm, 150 km and 10 m CEP, 120 kg warhead
Predator Hawk - 370mm, 300 km and 10 m CEP, 140 kg warhead
MBDA Missiles -
Surface Launched Brimstone
Land Precision Strike - long range Surface Launched Brimstone
(LPS is looking at a common launcher to the MBDA CAMM series of SAM missiles)
Exocet
Marte
Otomat
Teseo
NCM
Joint Fire Support Missile - 499 km cruise missile
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The Korean Chunmoo, adopted by the Poles on a Polish Jelcz 8x8 chassis as the Homar-K can launch the American MRLS family of missiles as well as indigenous Korean missiles
K33 - 131mm 36 km
KM26A2 - 230mm 45 km
CGR080 - 239mm 80 km
...
Maybe we buy American for North America and follow suite with the Poles and Scandinavians for Europe.
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At first blush, given a choice between MLRS, HIMARS, PULS and Chunmoo/HOMARS-K my lean is towards the Polish-Korean solution.
