Hover Multiple Launch Rocket System

Between the First and Second Tiberium Wars, GDI commanders took a hard look at the MLRS unit that had been so prevalent in the past. Yes, it was powerful against infantry and aircraft, but it did have a number of weaknesses. It was slow, poorly armored, and required advanced technology to produce. GDI engineers decided to produce a different MLRS that would rectify some of these weaknesses. As GDI already had massive anti-infantry power in the form of the Mammoth Mk II, and more particularly with the extremely powerful Orca Bomber, this was felt to be an extraneous requirement. What developed out of these modifications was the Hover MLRS.

The Hover MLRS had heavier armor than the previous version, although not as much armor as either the Titan or the Tick Tank. Its main advantages, however, resulted from GDI's use of a hover unit to propel the MLRS. No longer would the MLRS be forced to remain on land, this unit could also maneuver in the water, crossing rivers or even entire oceans if necessary. Furthermore, it meant that the Hover MLRS unit was also quite fast, making it an able scout. However, there were also disadvantages with this approach. For one, the advanced Hover drive failed when exposed to the massive charged particle bursts of an ion storm, rendering the unit little more than a missile turret. Second, the Hover MLRS' missiles could not be as powerful against most units - unlike the previous incarnation, the Hover MLRS had little capacity against infantry and only a moderate capacity against vehicles and aircraft. It should be noted, however, that Hover MLRS were GDI's only mobile defense against most Nod aircraft attacks.

Hover MLRS' first major deployment was against the captured Hammerfest base, where their ability to take to the waterways and avoid Nod land patrols played a pivotal role in the successful recapture of the base. From that moment on, Hover MLRS gained wide acceptance within GDI ranks, and were subsequently deployed in a number of engagements, including the GDI attack on CABAL's main cyborg production facility.

Due to the aforementioned weaknesses and its grossly expensive production costs it has been withdrawn from active duty, it has since been replaced by the Pitbull recon vehicle, which unlike its predecessor can work properly under an ion storms, is much cheaper and has more powerful rockets, though it is no longer amphibious.