The United States Army has significantly bolstered its long-range fire support capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region with the recent arrival of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in Hawaii, designated for the 25th Infantry Division, also known as ‘Tropic Lightning.’
This development was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Defense, which stated that the HIMARS units will replace some of the towed howitzers currently in use within the forces deployed in the area, thereby enhancing both the precision and range of artillery support.
As part of a larger modernization initiative, a total of 16 multiple launch rocket systems (MRLS) are expected to be incorporated into the division.
This is part of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), launched in April 2025, aimed at providing the U.S. Army with improved mobility, lethality, and operational capabilities across multiple domains.
A key priority of this initiative is to strengthen long-range fire and missile defense capabilities, especially in the Indo-Pacific theater, where the U.S. is focused on countering strategic challenges, particularly from China.
The initial deployment of HIMARS began on July 14, with an integration process slated to continue over the following six weeks to achieve the full complement of 16 systems.
In total, three HIMARS units along with two support vehicles arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, transported by a U.S. Air Force C-5 Super Galaxy.
Coinciding with this arrival, the 25th Infantry Division is also transforming its existing intelligence and electronic warfare battalions into a multi-domain fires unit to maximize operational capabilities.
Within the artillery brigade, there will be a significant reorganization: traditional artillery systems will be concentrated into one battalion, while a second battalion will focus exclusively on the operation of HIMARS.
The plan entails maintaining one battalion featuring two batteries with 105 mm M119 howitzers and another with 155 mm M777 howitzers, in addition to two batteries of HIMARS, each comprising eight launchers.
This transformation will lead to the decommissioning of eight M119 howitzers and six M777 howitzers, a move designed to substantially enhance long-range firepower and facilitate joint operational support among U.S. forces in multi-domain battlespace.
The deployment of HIMARS underscores the strategic significance the U.S. Army places on the Indo-Pacific theater and particularly highlights the first island chain, regarded as crucial in the event of a potential conflict.
The HIMARS units aim to provide resilient and precise fire support from various and difficult-to-access positions, as evidenced by their agile deployment rehearsals during the Salaknib and Balikatan exercises held earlier this year in the Philippines.
Moreover, as the integration of the new systems is underway, field artillery specialists (MOS 13B) are being trained to transition into the role of HIMARS operators (MOS 13M).
The U.S. Army has indicated that many of these personnel have already completed their training with the National Guard, ensuring that qualified operatives are available to manage and utilize the HIMARS within the new operational frameworks effectively.
This enhancement of the artillery capabilities signals a strategic pivot in how the U.S. Army intends to strengthen its military posture and readiness in the crucial Indo-Pacific region.
image source from：zona-militar
