US Army deploys new rocket launcher near North Korea

The U.S. Army said one of its forward-deployed artillery units in South Korea has carried out the first live-fire exercise of the modernized M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System on the Korean Peninsula, a move aimed at strengthening deterrence against North Korea.

According to the U.S. Army, Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, assigned to the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, became the first unit to conduct a live firing of the M270A2 system in Korea. The exercise took place on December 11 at Camp Casey, located north of Seoul and about 27 kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea.

The U.S. Army said in a release that the live fire demonstrated the unit’s readiness and its ability to rapidly execute missions using the upgraded rocket artillery system. The exercise marked the first time the M270A2 had been fired in an operational setting on the peninsula.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Daniel Han, commander of the 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, was present during the live-fire event. Speaking about the milestone, Han said the exercise carried broader strategic meaning beyond the unit itself.

“To be able to [be the first battalion to shoot the new launcher systems] in Korea sends a strong signal of how the U.S. Army is continuing to modernize, continuing to transform, with more modern up-to-date capabilities in technology,” Han said. “It also tells our allies, the ROK Army, that as they’re modernizing their long range precision shooter platforms … we’re right there side by side with them going through the same type of transformation to say that ‘we’re all in this together.’”

Han, who assumed command in June 2025, said the exercise was the first live fire conducted under his leadership. Despite that, he said he had little concern about his soldiers’ performance.

“I don’t think I had a lot of anticipation before because I knew the level of robust table five certifications that we had done and all the train up that we’ve done with our master gunner that was done to a really high standard,” Han said.

Leading up to the live-fire event, Charlie Battery had been conducting platoon-level training exercises in the field. The Army said soldiers were eager to employ the new equipment after completing their preparatory training.

“Being able to get out there, conduct rehearsals, conduct a live fire, very proficiently within a short, condensed amount of time that we had speaks a lot to Charlie battery, their team and all the preparation that they’ve done up to this point,” Han said. He added that the exercise also included firing missions using high-frequency communications, which he described as critical given Korea’s terrain.

U.S. Army Capt. Ryan Walters, battery commander of Charlie Battery, said the opportunity to conduct a live fire with the new system increased confidence in both his soldiers and unit leadership. After the exercise, the battery qualified nine rocket crews within a five-hour period.

Following the successful event, Walters said his message to the unit was straightforward.

“Thank you for taking care of yourself, your equipment and each other in the mission,” Walters said. “As long as we are taking care of ourselves, each other and our equipment, the mission will take care of itself.”

The M270A2 is the upgraded version of the tracked Multiple Launch Rocket System used by U.S. forces for long-range precision fires. The system is designed to operate in contested environments and support rapid response missions alongside allied forces.