Germany has reportedly secured parliamentary approval to purchase five Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) rocket artillery systems from Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems.
The deal, worth approximately €65 million (US$68 million), is the latest in a series of high-profile defense procurements. It follows Germany’s previous multi-billion-dollar agreement to acquire Israel’s Arrow-3 missile defense system.
Speaking to Defense News, the German Ministry of Defense reportedly confirmed that the decision to purchase comes after months of deliberation. This confirmation ends a highly competitive selection process for Germany’s next-generation multiple-rocket launcher system.
Elbit’s PULS, offered in partnership with German-French defense contractor KNDS, outpaced the proposal from Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall.
In partnership with German defense contractor Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin pitched the GMARS system, based on Lockheed’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), to replace Germany’s aging MARS 2 systems.
However, the Lockheed-Rheinmetall proposal was ultimately rejected because it did not meet Germany’s timeline, and no usable prototype was available at the time.
As a result, the PULS system decisively won the competition, which has already demonstrated its capabilities in other European countries. The approval to procure the PULS systems is part of a larger raft of funding allocations for the German military.
The PULS system, which allows for the deployment of various types of munitions, is expected to give Germany greater flexibility in its artillery capabilities. It is designed to be integrated with national fire-control systems, allowing user countries to choose and use their own munitions.
While it remains unclear whether Germany will integrate GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) rockets, which Ukraine currently uses and is available in many NATO nations’ stocks, Elbit has assured Berlin that PULS can be configured to launch the Unitary variant of GMLRS rockets.
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However, the potential integration of GMLRS rockets is contingent on securing political approval from the United States, a process that German defense officials are currently pursuing. Washington’s approval is necessary for Germany to use US-made munitions with the PULS system.
On the other hand, Lockheed Martin has previously suggested that its munitions, including the GMLRS rockets and the newer Precision Strike Missile, will not be compatible with the PULS system.
Lockheed’s Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Land Forces, Howard Bromberg, emphasized this point during last year’s Eurosatory defense trade show in Paris.
Germany is not the only European country investing in Israeli-built PULS systems. Serbia has recently finalized the procurement of Israeli-made PULS artillery rocket systems.
The Netherlands awarded Israel a US$305 million contract in May 2023 for 20 PULS units. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2026.
Denmark has already received its full complement of eight systems, while Spain placed an order for 16 units in October 2023. The presence of nearby allies using the same systems can drive efficiencies by establishing a “use group” that consolidates spare parts, training, and munitions.
HIMARS Vs. PULS
Following the success of the US-made M142 HIMARS in Ukraine, European nations have been keen to invest in similar multiple rocket launchers.
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HIMARS made a huge impact during its early deployment, particularly in July and August 2022, when long-range strikes destroyed multiple Russian artillery ammunition depots and killed several high-ranking officers in command centers. This effectiveness played a role in slowing down Russia’s initially aggressive summer offensive.
The success of HIMARS and security concerns following Russia’s invasion have led to a surge in orders for the system. Countries such as Australia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have placed significant orders, with Poland increasing its initial request from 20 units to potentially 486.
Pre-existing orders from Taiwan and Romania have also expanded. However, the growing backlog of orders for HIMARS led some countries to look for alternatives. The PULS system, produced by Elbit Systems, has proven to be a viable alternative to HIMARS.
For example, the Netherlands selected PULS because it offered a quicker delivery timeline than HIMARS. Moreover, the Israeli system offers similar capabilities at a more affordable price and with additional features.
Unlike HIMARS, which uses a single rocket-launching pod, PULS can mount two pods, allowing for greater firepower. After launching, a new pod can be fitted in under 10 minutes, offering faster operational readiness.
Another advantage of the PULS system is its versatility. While HIMARS is designed for a specific vehicle, PULS can be mounted on various platforms, enabling it to integrate with existing logistics.
The PULS system was originally developed from the Israeli Military Industry’s 6×6 Lynx multiple-rocket-launcher truck and is currently used by the Israeli Defense Forces on Oshkosh 8×8 HEMTT trucks under the designation Lahav.
PULS is considerably larger and heavier than HIMARS, with a length of 34 feet and a weight of 38 tons, compared to HIMARS’ 18-ton combat-loaded weight. This larger size, however, allows PULS to carry more rockets, with two pods capable of launching up to 12 rockets in 60 seconds, depending on the munitions.
HIMARS, in comparison, uses one pod that can launch six GMLRS rockets or one long-range ATACMS missile. While the cost of a PULS system has not been disclosed, HIMARS is priced at nearly US$5 million per launcher, with each GMLRS rocket costing over US$100,000.
PULS is also more versatile in terms of the types of munitions it can fire. It can launch a range of European and PULS-specific rockets, including Accular 122-mm and 160-mm rockets, EXTRA extended-range rockets, and Predator Hawk missiles.
The PULS system is also touted as adaptable to future missiles, with both KNDS and Elbit promoting its potential to evolve and integrate with various missile providers.
According to the Defense expert Sébastien Roblin, “Israel’s PULS units can also launch the subsonic Delilah cruise missile, flying much lower and slower, out to 155 miles and with even greater accuracy. The Delilah, however, doesn’t seem to be up for export.”
He pointed out, “Side by side, PULS can deliver eight 300-millimeter rockets compared to HIMARS’s six 227-millimeter ones. Or it can carry four tactical missiles instead of HIMARS’s one.”
Roblin added, “And compared to Soviet-era artillery systems, the PULS can deliver effects similar to the BM-21, BM-27, and BM-30 rocket systems as well as the older OTR-21 Tochka ballistic missile. That means the same launcher can be used for a wide range of different missions, from precision strikes targeting depots, air defense, and HQs behind enemy lines, to point targets near the frontline and old-school saturation bombardments across a broad area.”
In summary, PULS’s affordability, flexibility, and ability to carry out a wide array of missions have made it an attractive alternative to HIMARS for European countries seeking to increase their military capabilities.
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