According to information published by the Spanish defense information "InfoDefensa" on May 4, 2023, the General Directorate of Armament and Material of the Spanish Ministry of Defense is considering various options for the design and development of the High Mobility Rocket Launch System for the Spanish Army.
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The three options for the new MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System for the Spanish army include the Avibras from Brazil, the Chunmoo from South Korea, and the PULS from Israel.
All options involve purchasing the system from a national contractor supported by a foreign technologist. This is the preferred option by the Secretary of State for Defense to strengthen the industrial and technological base of defense, ahead of others such as direct acquisition in the international market, purchasing from the United States through the FMS of the HIMARS system, or even designing a European system which, in any case, does not meet the deadlines set for entry into service.
In recent months, three options have been considered (evaluated or at least taken into account), as explained by the Spanish Army in a workshop with companies focused on ammunition and geo-positioning.
The first option offers a system based on the Korean Hanwa Chunmoo rocket launcher in association with the Spanish Tecnesis 3000; the second considers an alliance between SMS and the Brazilian Avibras to produce a system based on the Astros; and the third bets on the national development of the Israeli Elbit's PULS system by a consortium formed by Expal, Escribano, GMV, and Iveco.
The decision has not yet been made, but the last option is the most likely to move forward, confirm military and industrial sources consulted by Infodefensa.com. It is also worth noting that the program has not yet been officially launched. The next milestone is the approval of the Viability Document (DVV) scheduled for mid-May.
The Spanish Army openly explained in the workshop that the PULS-based system option – the only one presented in detail at the event – meets the requirements set by the Field Artillery Command (MACA) and highlighted that the program is not only a necessity in light of the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine but also a "debt" to NATO.
The Spanish Ministry of Defense is committed to a rocket launcher with a high component of national development, around 75%, and the national development of missiles and rockets, i.e., ammunition, which will practically consume 90% of the budget, according to estimates.
In other words, the department seeks a leading role for the Spanish industry. This is one of the lines that the new Defense Industrial Strategy aims to reinforce. The goal is to design and produce whenever possible in Spain and, if this is not possible, acquire an interim solution while promoting the development of a national alternative.
The Spanish Ministry of Defense budget includes a small allocation of 22 million euros to launch the program in this year's defense budget within the Special Modernization Programs section, although the ministry's forecast is to allocate 290 million euros between 2023 and 2028.
After the approval of funds for this program, at the end of 2022, a working group reviewed the initially set requirements and is currently working on the documentation that will go to the Council of Ministers.
Defense News May 2023
