The US Army has increased its order for additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) by more than $1 billion.
From the $861 million announced last month, the service now wants more HIMARS from Lockheed Martin for an adjusted cost of $1.9 billion.
Like the previous contract award, the army did not say how many of the advanced rocket launchers are being purchased.
However, it said the completion date of the contract has been adjusted to May 2028, or two years beyond the original schedule.
Apart from the launchers, Lockheed will provide associated support services as part of the billion-dollar deal.
More HIMARS for Ukraine?
The US Army did not say why it was modifying the contract to a larger value.
But the move coincides with the approval of a $61-billion supplemental aid bill for Ukraine, which will include weapons and equipment in the US military inventory.
Kyiv has been using the American rocket system against Russia since the early months of the war, registering major breakthroughs such as the destruction of 50 Russian ammunition depots in July 2022.
The contract modification could indicate that the US Army wants to replenish more of its HIMARS stockpiles to accommodate further donations to Ukraine.
Developed in the late 1990s, the HIMARS is a highly mobile artillery rocket system designed to engage and defeat enemy armored vehicles, artillery, and air defense concentrations.
