HIMARS FLEX: Lockheed Martin says its modular launcher doubles HIMARS firepower and can fire PAC-3 interceptors

Lockheed Martin is promoting the HIMARS FLEX again, the new modular version of the M142 HIMARS rocket launcher. In a video posted on X on Friday, October 9, with the message of “double the firepower”, the company presents it as “Proven. Modular. Built for what’s next.” The system was first unveiled on June 16, 2026 at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, as described in Lockheed Martin’s official presentation.

Two pods instead of one

The main change is that HIMARS FLEX can carry two pods instead of one. The standard HIMARS carries one pod holding six GMLRS rockets, one ATACMS missile or two PrSM missiles. According to Carolyn Orzechowski, Lockheed’s vice president for precision fires, launchers and missiles, who spoke at Eurosatory, the load doubles to 12 GMLRS or ER GMLRS, four PrSM or two ATACMS, as reported by Janes. That brings the wheeled HIMARS to the same load as the tracked M270 MLRS.

And an air-defence launcher

The biggest innovation is that the same launcher can be configured for air and ballistic missile defence. According to Lockheed, HIMARS FLEX can carry up to eight PAC-3 interceptors, the missiles of the Patriot system, or 12 or more interceptors of the US IFPC programme. The company has not said whether PAC-3 integration has been completed or whether live-fire tests have been carried out, and it has named no customer or delivery timeline. At Eurosatory, the ER GMLRS and PrSM missiles on display were mock-ups.

The system is built on what Lockheed calls the FLEXFires technology ecosystem and is offered in several forms: a single-pod baseline, the two-pod “FLEX”, on a vehicle or in a container, with the option of autonomous operation. It stays within the XM1140 chassis family and is C-130 transportable. It can use munitions already in NATO stockpiles (GMLRS, ER GMLRS, PrSM, ATACMS, PAC-3) and connect to common fire-control networks.

“HIMARS FLEX will be a game changer in the future of offensive and defensive fires,” said Tim Cahill, president of Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control. “Our FLEXFires technology suite will let operators scale loadout and add autonomous capabilities without sacrificing speed or accuracy.”

Why it matters

HIMARS has more than 2.5 million operating hours worldwide and became widely known through its use in Ukraine. The wheeled launcher’s shoot-and-scoot tactic, with a doubled load and fast reloading, makes it harder for an adversary to locate. Combining strike and air defence on the same vehicle is aimed at countries that want fewer types of launchers and common training and support. In Greece, the Hellenic Army operates the M270 MLRS, which shares pods and ATACMS munitions with HIMARS.