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M270A1 Deployment

In September 1997 the first US Army Command & Attack Battalion (CAB) Field Artillery (FA) unit was activated. This program previously known as the MLRS "2x9" fielded another MLRS firing battery and a Headquarters, Headquarters & Service (HHS) battery to the Division Artillery of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, TX. This change merged these new batteries with the existing MLRS Battery, A Btry, 21st FA and the Target Acquisition Battery (TAB), B Battery, 26th FA. The new unit was then known as 1st Bn, 21st FA (1-21 FA).

This program was not unique to 1st Cavalry Division. Over the following years, fieldings took place to all of the "heavy" divisions within the active army. The direction to make this change was as a result of a decision made by the Vice-Chief of Staff of the Army on 29 Feb 1996. The decision for this plan was put forward based on the Nov 1993 release of the Legal Mix V Study with subsequent conclusions from the Army Science Board in Oct 1995. The rationale was based on analysis that indicated the need for additional firepower within the division.

The next unit to be changed was the conversion of B Btry, 20th FA (MLRS) and A Btry, 26th FA (TAB) to 2-20 FA at 4th Mechanized Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX in Jul 1998. In 4QFY99, A Btry, 13th FA (MLRS) and A Btry, 39th FA (TAB) converted to 1-39 FA at Fort Stewart, GA. After FY99 the remaining three (3) CAB fieldings were fielded with the M270A1 Launchers. These systems were remanufactured launchers that will include the Improved Fire Control System (IFCS) and Improved Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS). These units are A Btry, 38th FA (MLRS) and F Btry, 26th FA (TAB) to 1-38 FA to be fielded in FY01 in Korea; and in Germany the fieldings A Btry, 94th FA (MLRS) and C Btry, 25th FA (TAB) in FY03, and A Btry, 33 FA (TAB) and B Btry 25th FA (TAB) in FY05.

An M270A1 System Integration Update briefing was presented to COL (P) Holly, the Program Executive Officer (PEO), Tactical Missiles on 26 April 1999. This briefing addressed the status of Improved Launcher Mechanical System (ILMS) qualification testing, and system level testing to date. The M270A1 Acquisition Strategy was a three-phase strategy with Phases I & II completed, meeting the Milestone III Full Rate Production Decision in FY 00.

The M270A1 Logistics Demonstration (Log Demo) began 25 Oct 1998 and was completed on 15 Jan 1999 successfully accomplishing 239 maintenance tasks, 10 of these tasks were performed in MOPP IV. Soldiers from Ft. Sill, OK (13M-operator and 27M-maintainer) participated in the Logistics Demonstration. The soldiers had no problems using the M270A1 Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) or the SPORT lightweight computer. The outcome of this extensive Logistics Demonstration indicates the M270A1 is supportable by the soldier in the field.

The M270A1 began the Developmental Test/Operational Test (DT/OT) flight phase of the Operational Test (OT) in Apr 1999. The DT/OT flight phase tests included the successful firings of MLRS M26, M28 rockets, and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) Block I and IA missions at White Sands Missile Range. Flight test firings included Development Test firings of MLRS Guided Rocket (FY 00).

By early 2009 all FAL variants (M270, M270A1, M270B1 and M142) had supported GWOT operations. At that time, launchers variants supported both OIF and OEF operations - M142s support OIF / OEF, M270B1s support OEF, M270A1s support OIF, M142s support OIF. Launchers deployed in Theatre continued to perform above Army Standards. Operational readiness exceeded 97%. Reliability was over 350 hours between System Abort Failures, with no maintenance issues. The M142 and M270A1 launchers returning from both Theaters were in excellent condition requiring minimal Reset.

M270B1

M270B1 is the designation for the U.K.'s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher, which has been in use with U.K. Forces since the early 1990s. The M270B1 initially allowed the firing of all MLRS rocket munitions, but not ATACMS, which was not fielded by the UK. Tests in 2009 proved that with a simple system upgrade, the M270B1 can broaden its MLRS-based capabilities to include ATACMS.