Future Artillery 2023: KNDS proposes arming EuroPULS MRL with NSM

KMW displayed a PULS MRL armed with a Kongsberg NSM at its site in Munich on the first day of Defence iQ's Future Artillery conference held in Munich from 29 May to 1 June. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann-Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) is proposing that the Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS) multiple rocket launcher (MRL) be armed with Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile (NSM). An Elbit Systems-Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) EuroPULS MRL mounted on an Iveco Trakker 8×8 chassis was displayed at KMW's site in Munich on the first day of Defence iQ's Future Artillery conference held in the Bavarian capital from 29 May to 1 June.

A KMW representative said the NSM could be used in a surface-to-surface role either against naval vessels or land targets. The NSM has a range of up to 250 km, according to KMW.

EuroPULS could also be armed with a Joint Fire Support Missile (JFS-M), a full-scale mock-up of which was displayed by MBDA Deutschland at Future Artillery 2023. The concept combines ground launchability, a long range of up to 499 km, great agility, and low observability because of low-level flight and a reduced airframe, according to MBDA Deutschland.

In addition to the NSM and JFS-M, KMW proposes as optional effectors for EuroPULS, Elbit's Accular with a range of up to 35 km, Extra with a range of up to 150 km, and Predator Hawk with a range of up to 300 km, SkyStriker loitering munitions, as well as Lockheed Martin's Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Extended Range (GMLRS-ER) with a range of up to 70/150 km and Diehl AT2/AT3 anti-tank mines.