The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is considering the procurement of an additional 15 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers and an extra Repair and Recovery Vehicle (RRV), according to a recent parliamentary response from Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence.

In response to a written question from James Cartlidge MP, Eagle confirmed that the UK currently has 61 M270 MLRS launchers and eight RRVs on order with the US Department of Defense. She noted that these figures “have not changed since 5 July 2024”, but added that “the MOD is currently considering the procurement of a further 15 MLRS and one RRV.”

Image Crown Copyright

Alongside the possible expansion of the MLRS fleet, the UK has committed £800 million over the next decade to Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) and Extended Range GMLRS (ER-GMLRS) missiles. However, Eagle stated that the precise number of missiles remains confidential, saying “the stockpile number remains classified.”

The UK’s workshare in the MLRS and RRV programme accounts for approximately 6% of the total programme value, ensuring that British industry remains involved in the modernisation of long-range artillery systems.

The potential acquisition of more MLRS launchers and enhanced munitions stockpiles reflects the UK’s growing focus on long-range fires and deep-strike capabilities.

The M270 MLRS has demonstrated its battlefield effectiveness, particularly in Ukraine, where its high-precision strike capability has played a pivotal role. If approved, the additional MLRS units and munitions investment would significantly enhance the British Army’s ability to deliver accurate, long-range firepower.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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65 COMMENTS

  1. Good news and it’s about time the RA got the attention it needs. These and other similar systems are becoming the key currency in modern warfare and I’m sure more missile types will be considered going forward.

  4. Given the vagaries of our cousins from across the sea and the vagaries of political allegiance as well as there demonstrated willingness to cut off aspects of intelligence and infrastructure it seems like a bad idea to being making such a large investment into an artillery system so tied to GPS.

      • The companies producing and selling them will. As will the employees if foreign military sales slumped.

        The appalling attitude you show, mirrored by Trump, Vance, Musk et al will result in those sale slumping, and then later job losses. The US military alone can’t sustain the US military industrial complex, especially as Musk will probably also gut the US military.

          • No he hasn’t. He has requested 8% ($50 billion) from current programs which will then be put towards homeland missile defense.

          • Which still means reduced orders from the US military.

            Between reduced US military spending and Europe slowly weaning off US military sales over the next decade or so, the US MIC will definitely shrink, losing a lot of jobs.

      • The U.S. companies that will be losing out on the hundreds of millions in orders will care as will the people in the jobs…you are a very disruptive individual, it would not surprise me if you were not a CCP political warfare operative.

        • Have you noticed that it never replies? Just comments a snide remark and disappears. Whether because it cannot support or sustain its argument, or is a bot account I’m not sure.

      • I think they will.

        Someone will wake up eventually, but Mr Chump is a terminal narcissist, and JD Pants is too far up Thiel’s rabbithole.

    • Less of an issue now that GPS compatible data can be obtained from OneWeb’s new Astra package. The government clearly had plans when they rode to the rescue of OneWeb – OneWeb was assisted in the development by the National Physics Laboratory.

      • Right. This is the name of the company I was looking for weeks ago. Now owned by a French holding company it would appear?

        • Oneweb?

          It merged with Eutelsat to form a British-French company, in which the UK still has a Golden Share.

          If you look on Youtube for an interview entitled “Europe Steps Up Satellite Capabilities Amid Doubts Over Musk’s Starlink”, it is with the head of Eutelsat about potential applications such as OneWeb picking up some slack in Ukraine where Starlink is at risk.

          Their shares are up by 600% since Feb 28 !

    • I agree although keeping the ones we have up to date and buying more ammo for them is wise.

      All future purchases should be from trustworthy pro democratic countries.

    • The trouble is Trump can exert pressure on Israel and South Korea not to supply us. Remember Israel vetoed supply of SPIKE/MELS to Ukraine.

  6. I have no issue with supplementing and supporting existing US derived kit.
    We hamstring ourselves dropping it, it is not realistic.
    That does not extend to buying more US makes that we do not have in service , over alternate UK or European types.
    That to me is a sensible compromise.

    • This is a key point, this is a small expansion of equipment already in use that was already planned last year, it wouldn’t make sense to go for alternatives unless the full fleet was due to be replaced.

      Money is tight enough that this is still being considered rather than purchased despite the requirement of 76 already being set, the option is additional m270s or no additional MLRS as replacing the fleet isn’t a realistic option without cuts elsewhere and there are already capability gaps without adding to it.

      • Only if we’re either going to buy a significant amount ourselves or can secure a lot of export orders. Otherwise it ends up being prohibitively expensive.

        A better bet would probably be to join into a European project which could then use economies of scale.

    • Agree, it’s not something we can easily replace or build ourselves, so in this case it’s suck it up. But when it comes time for a replacement then I hope lesions are learnt about sovereign capabilities in something as core as long range precision fires.

      • I’m pretty sure we could build ourselves BAE systems already builds rockets for artillery im pretty sure there capable of putting together a MLRS system but it’s the GPS system that’s more of a problem I wish we had our own system to be honest

    • M8 it’s not just items we buy from the US, it’s ability to restrict our use of them and some kit we think of as being home grown. The US turned off the intelligence Tap to Ukraine but also told us stop sharing US supplied intelligence with them as well.
      So that’s Storm Shadow effectively crippled as its high end accuracy ability is down to US TERCOM data.

  10. This is just part of the previously planned acquisition of 15 units taking the MLRS fleet from 61 units to 76 units which was supposed to be the army requirement reported on last year with the purchase expected this year.

    This isn’t anything new or an additional acquisition on top of the 76 units target, just a confirmation that they are still considering whether to follow through on the reported plan from last year rather than a plan for a further acquisition from 76 to 91 units.

    Atleast it wasn’t the waiting for the results of the SDR line.

  12. I belive we need to bring back National Service not only would it give the youngsters opportunity for travel would broaden their knowledge and horizons possibly a trade for some to go forward in the future

    • Ermmm where to start !

      Are you old ?
      Do you think that young people today actually want a trade in the incredibly diminished armed forces ?
      Do you think it will be a growing opportunity ?
      Have you seen what the last 80 years has done to the armed forces ?
      Why the heck would any youngsters want any part of that ?

      • It is my understanding that the desire to have a career in the armed services is still there it is the totally crazy length of time that it took for someone to initially apply to being accepted, something like a year plus.
        I believe Labour have taken steps to do something about this.

      • I don’t think u have a choice when it comes to conscription so I don’t think it’s really up to them I believe it was a choice service or jail and most would just do the service however I’m not sure we need national service we don’t need 300k conscripts (yet) I do think we need a bigger army but I’m not sure what would be the best way about doing it

    • “Youngest to travel” you’re joking right. You can get to anywhere in Europe for less than £100. You can get to Asia for £500 return. US £450. Travel is open to everyone on and for a very cheap fee.

      Only people who say “bring back national service” are normally too old to be called up.

      You sound like this is something they would want and if conscription in most conflicts around the world. It doesn’t work if you want a credit force. If they wanted to join the military, they would have. Who wants to be in the army on a base in the backend of nowhere. Nobody. Grim.

    • Do we have barrack room space given the base closures over recent years, to suddenly increase head count?

  13. We don’t have enough of anything, so anything more is good news. I understand why we’ve gone American since we already operate this system but in the longer term I would like to see us move away from purchasing US made equipment. Trump will only be around for 4 years but we need to have more options ready for the next Trump style president.

  15. Am I the only one who is concerned that buying American weapons is rapidly becoming a bad idea and that it may come with a few undocumented features the Americans may be keeping to themselves. Like the ability to remotely mess with the targeting or even turn them off.

  16. We really need to look at our ban on using cluster munitions as well. The ukraine war has again demonstrated how effective they are against mechanised units and in counter battery fire.

  18. This will be smoke and mirrors to get to the already declared number whilst pretending it’s new.
    2 pods Vs 1 for Himars is an advantage Vs complexity and costs of tracked systems Vs the fact we already have experience with it.
    The army has an awkward max of wheels and tracked going forward.
    C2 plus Ajax , M270 are tracked , the troops travelling in Boxer and 155mm in RH155 wheeled vehicles. There isn’t enough heavy transporters to go round in any case but a unit would seem to lose the advantage of speed of advance of a wheeled vehicle if the armour and rocket artillery has to trail behind on tracks of heavy transporters.

  19. Old news reformatted, the target was always 75 but not ever fully confirmed, we had 64 once that dropped to about 44 due writes offs and RRV conversions. Great if we get so many but we would need more DROPS type vehicles and much larger ammo stocks. Thats the bit we will likely cut corners on so we have lots of launchers but not much ammo.
    Any one got details on what the MLRS RRV A2 looks like etc? since are meant up grading to 10 of them.

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