What is the "Hippo" rocket launcher?

"Hippo" rocket launcher is a vehicle-mounted multi-barrel rocket launcher system manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It was officially put into production in the 1990s, and was first deployed and used by the US military around 2005.

The rocket launcher can be equipped with six GPS-guided medium-range GMLRS guided missiles with a range of 92 kilometers, or long-range guided Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS) with a range of 300 kilometers. However, the United States did not provide ATACMS missiles to Ukraine because it was worried that Ukraine might use these missiles to attack Russia, thus escalating the war and involving the United States in this military conflict.

"Hippo" rocket launcher needs three guns to operate, and it takes five minutes to load. As a mobile artillery system, it can move quickly after launch to protect the artillery and system from any counterattack from the enemy. This ability is called "shooting and scurrying".

Lockheed Martin said that the "hippocampus" cost about 5 million US dollars, and so far more than 540 sets have been put into practical use. The United States, Romania, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Ukraine are among the few countries with Hippo rockets.

In addition, the United States has approved the sale of rocket launching systems to Poland and Taiwan Province province. Estonia has confirmed that it will buy six sets of seahorse rockets from the United States.

The US military deployed and used "hippocampus" to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, and used "hippocampus" to fight the "Islamic State" terrorist organization in Mosul, Iraq.