US May Let European Launchers Use American-Made Munitions

The United States is considering allowing European rocket launchers to be adapted for American-made munitions, Euractiv reported, citing sources.

At present, US-made munitions from the MFOM family can only be fired from HIMARS and M270 systems approved by Washington.

That restriction has effectively created two incompatible multiple-launch rocket system fleets within NATO. Poland, the Baltic states, Romania and Italy are buying HIMARS, while Germany, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Greece have opted for Euro-PULS.

Euractiv noted that even when munitions are available elsewhere in the alliance, not every launcher is capable of using them.

A change in the US approach could address one of NATO’s compatibility problems by allowing European systems to be modified for American shells and missiles. According to the publication, such a move would make cooperation between alliance members easier and increase the flexibility of their existing weapons.

The United States previously resisted this type of integration because of commercial interests and concerns over the disclosure of sensitive technologies.

At the same time, Washington is moving part of its weapons production to Europe. Production of ATACMS missiles in Germany has already been approved, marking the first time they will be manufactured outside the United States.