The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a U.S. light multiple rocket launcher system mounted on a truck. HIMARS carries six rockets or one ATACMS missile on the US Army's new FMTV five-ton truck, and can launch the entire MLRS family of munitions. HIMARS is interchangeable with the MLRS M270A1, carrying half the rocket load.

The vehicle is C-130 transportable and produced by Armor Holdings Aerospace and Defense Group Tactical Vehicle Systems Division, the OEM of the FMTV. The rocket system is produced by Lockheed Martin. In 2002, the United States Marine Corps arranged with the US Army to acquire 40 of the systems. Fielding began in 2005.

Pictured here is a 1:32 scale diecast replica of a US M142 HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System that participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom, during 2003. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 8-inches
Width: 3-1/2-inches

Release Date: August 2007

Historical Account: "Weapons of Mass Destruction" - The 2003 operation in Iraq, termed "Operation Iraqi Freedom" by the US administration, began on March 20th. It was originally coined "Operation Iraqi Liberation". The United States and the United Kingdom supplied 98% of the invading forces. They co-operated with Kurdish forces in the north which numbered upwards of 50,000. Other nations also participated in part of a coalition force to help with the operation by providing equipment, services and security as well as Special Forces. The 2003 Iraq invasion marked the beginning of what is commonly referred to as the Iraq War.

Prior to the invasion, the United States' official position was that Iraq illegally possessed weapons of mass destruction in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and had to be disarmed by force.

President George W. Bush stated Saddam's weapons of mass destruction needed to be disarmed, and the Iraqi people were to have control of their own country restored to them. UN inspection teams were searching Iraq for these alleged weapons for nearly four months prior to the invasion and were willing to continue, but were forced out by the onset of war in spite of their requests for more time.

The Bush administration did not attempt to get a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing military force, as France, Russia, and later China all signaled that they would use their Security Council veto power against any resolution that would include an ultimatum allowing the use of force against Iraq. On March 20th, 2003, the invasion of Iraq began. This was seen by many as a violation of international law, breaking the UN Charter (see Legitimacy of the 2003 invasion of Iraq). The Iraqi military was defeated, and Baghdad fell on April 9th, 2003. On May 1st, 2003, President Bush declared the end of major combat operations, terminating the Baath Party's rule and removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from office. Coalition forces ultimately captured Saddam Hussein on December 13th, 2003.

Numerous guerrilla and terrorist groups are active in the area, including one newly-formed called al-Qaeda in Iraq. Legislative elections were held in January 2005.