GOTEMBA, Japan — American Marines launched twelve rockets from a truck-mounted system Wednesday during a training exercise at a military range located in the foothills of Japan’s famous Mount Fuji, practicing with equipment that has become increasingly vital to U.S. military operations.
The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) consists of a rocket launcher installed on a military vehicle that can quickly emerge from hiding, launch its payload, and rapidly relocate to prevent enemy retaliation. These rapid deployment and repositioning methods, known as “shoot and scoot” strategies, are gaining significance as battlefield drones become more common, making fixed positions easier targets.
American forces have deployed this system in Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. Central Command recently reported using it in initial strikes against Iran, where it fired an advanced precision-guided missile capable of hitting targets several hundred miles distant.
This capability holds special significance in the Pacific region, where the United States aims to prevent a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan, which China considers its territory and has not dismissed conquering through military action. HIMARS units equipped with the newest missiles could potentially strike locations in the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan from mainland China if positioned on Japanese or neighboring islands.
However, HIMARS typically uses shorter-distance rockets, and Wednesday’s training at the U.S. military’s Camp Fuji, located approximately two hours by car from Tokyo, utilized only practice rounds.
This marks just the second occasion HIMARS has been tested at Camp Fuji, with the drill conducted in close partnership with Japanese military personnel. Officials temporarily shut down a public highway that passed between the launch site and target area as a safety measure during the exercise.
