M142 “HIMARS” – the US high mobility missile system on the “Oshkosh” M1140 chassis

M142 "HIMARS" (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) - a modern American surface-to-surface missile system. The maximum range of the system is 300 km, the minimum - 2 km. The mobile platform with missiles weighs 10,900 kilograms, its length is 7 meters, width - 2.4 meters. The cost of one "HIMARS" launcher is 5.1 million (2014 prices). The M142 “HIMARS” was developed by “BAE Systems” and “Lockheed Martin” for the needs of the US Armed Forces. When developing the new system, attention was paid to the greatest possible mobility, high maximum speed of the wheeled platform and the ability to be airlifted on a C-130 “Hercules” aircraft. In order to increase compatibility and shorten research and development work as much as possible, it was decided to use a wheeled platform, based on the M1078 FMTV family truck, and the rocket launcher was borrowed from the M270 “MLRS’. It is worth adding, that while the “MLRS” has two containers with 6 launchers, the “HIMARS’ uses one container - also with 6 launchers. The first field tests of the M142 began in 1998, the first production batch was ordered in 2002. Launchers of this type were used during the Syrian civil war, that began in 2011, and in Iraq - since 2014. By the way, this type of weaponry was ordered for the Lithuanian Army. 

A not very large, well-designed and richly detailed complex model for medium-experienced and experienced modelers. But even they will have something to turn their heads and stretch their hands here. Everything, that can be reproduced in a model of this scale, is detailed. There is a reserve of colors, a text instruction of medium size, but perfectly complementing the excellent graphic instruction.