The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Lockheed Martin a $226.8 million contract for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) long-range missile capabilities, benefiting the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, as well as Poland and Morocco. This contract, part of a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangement, will see the delivery of ATACMS missile and launching assembly procurement by December 2028. While none of the mentioned countries currently operate the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) or M270 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) vehicles needed for the ATACMS munition, there have been recent requests for the acquisition of these systems.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Morocco have all shown interest in acquiring the necessary equipment for the ATACMS munition. In November 2022, Lithuania was approved for the potential FMS of eight M142 HIMARS and ATACMS munitions, while Latvia requested six HIMARS platforms in October 2023. Additionally, Morocco has expressed interest in purchasing 18 M142 HIMARS launchers and 40 M57 ATACMS, indicating a growing interest in long-range missile capabilities among these countries. The ATACMS has gained attention recently for its range and accuracy, especially after the US allowed its provision to Ukraine, resulting in long-range strikes into Russian territory.
The ATACMS, a long-range guided missile with a maximum range of 300km, is designed to be fired from platforms like the M142 HIMARS or M270 systems. The missile contains improved GPS guidance and a blast fragmentation warhead, packaged in a pod to maintain operational secrecy. Its deployment in Ukraine has raised concerns about escalation, but it has proven to be a valuable asset in long-range precision strikes, aligning with the growing interest in advanced missile capabilities among various countries.
