LA-LO, Philippines — The HIMARS, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was tested during the bilateral training exercise known as Balikatan in the Philippines. HIMARS was transported via C-130s and U.S. Marine Corps amphibious hovercraft to Palawan and Luzon islands for a live-fire exercise.
The demonstration by the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment showcased HIMARS’ ability to be transported and rapidly deployed in unconventional ways. The system carried six missiles and participated in two HIMARS Rapid Infiltration operations during the exercise.
The entire process, including transportation via C-130, LCACs, and tactical road marches, took 72 hours. HIMARS demonstrated its ability to be loaded onto a C-130 in 30 minutes and be ready to fire in just 10 minutes upon arrival. The system traveled approximately 260 miles on one tank of fuel.
The successful deployment of HIMARS at Balikatan allowed the Philippine Armed Forces to assess their own modernization needs, as countries like Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan are increasing their use of the system. The test also highlighted improvements like the new Mid-Range Capability missile that addresses challenges in targeting ships at sea.
