American MLRS M142 HIMARS in Ukraine: Chinese assessment

According to specialized publications in China, the United States began supplying highly mobile multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of the M142 HIMARS model to Ukraine in June 2022. Ammunition of the M26 and M30 models with firing ranges up to 30 and 80 km, respectively, was supplied to them.

Since 2023, deliveries of projectiles with GMLRS-type feathered bombs and M57 tactical missiles (OTR) of several modifications (also known as MGM-140 ATACMS) were launched, which made it possible to confidently hit targets at a distance of 100 to 290 km ( optional ). 

For conducting combat operations in Ukraine, the US military has reserved 29 thousand M26 model rocket ammunition, of which, as of October 1, 2025, 8 thousand units were used. The average cost of one M26 model munition is 158 thousand US dollars. The cost of one OTP M57 is 1,7 million US dollars.

It is noted that the crews of the M142 combat vehicles were staffed exclusively by American specialists qualified enough to work with the IFADTS guidance system – it receives the coordinates of targets from the reconnaissance system deployed by the US Armed Forces using spacecraft, long-range radar detection and control aircraft, radio intelligence, as well as RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance UAVs. The multi-layered intelligence system allowed American specialists to identify command posts, MTO depots, radar and anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) positions, as well as other facilities on the territory controlled by the Russian Armed Forces.

It was the military personnel of the US Armed Forces who were able to use the M142 with high efficiency in the summer and autumn period of 2022 as part of the counteroffensive operation in the Kharkiv region.

In 2023-2024, the M142 crews switched to countering the air defense units of the Russian Armed Forces – they hit radars and air defense systems that had been in place for a long time without changing positions or covering.

During the operation in the Antonovsky Bridge area, the BM M142 launched about one thousand shells, of which 10% fell directly on the engineering structure itself.

The Kherson region. Antonovsky Bridge after the shelling.

As part of the operation to invade the Kursk region, American military advisers also actively used the M142, but disregard for the capabilities of the Russian military led to heavy losses – the Russian Armed Forces destroyed at least 15 BM M142 during the summer and autumn period of 2024.

In total, as of 01.10.2025, the Russian military managed to destroy at least 65 American-made MLRS in combat operations. At least 28 BM of this model remain at the disposal of American military personnel on the territory of Ukraine, the maximum number of available installations is estimated at 40 vehicles. Probably a small number of PrSM type missiles (firing range up to 400 km) are concentrated.

Components of a precision guided missile of the US Army

It is noted that the Russian Armed Forces were able to develop effective measures for electronic counteraction to the M142 ammunition guidance system. The accuracy of the M26/M30 shot in conditions of active electronic warfare decreased by 90%, for ammunition with feathered bombs of the GMLRS type, this parameter decreased by 55%.

The Russian Armed Forces were able to radically reduce the time it took to transfer information from a reconnaissance UAV to the command post of units equipped with the Iskander missile defense system - missiles of this complex have become the main means of countering American MLRS.  There have been isolated cases of M142 damage using fiber-optic FPV at a distance of 30 km from the line of combat contact.

The high intelligence activity of the Russian Armed Forces forces the M142 calculations to change positions twice a day, and when choosing a position, take into account the possibility of using counter-battery radar by the Russian Armed Forces. The US military lost several installations on the territory of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions from the actions of the Su-34 of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which, acting as a group of 6 aircraft, launch massive FAB-250 bombs from the UMPK in the area of the M142.

Significant efficiency at an acceptable level of M142 losses allowed the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, to conclude contracts from 2022 to 2025 for the supply of more than 705 BM model M142 and several thousand transport and launch containers for ammunition of various types /calibers for the armed Forces of foreign countries (the data are shown in Table 1). At the same time, the contract for the production of 311 units of the M142 is being executed in the interests of the US Armed Forces.

In addition, based on the experience of combat use in their own military, the American developers have upgraded the M26 and M30 ammunition – the firing range has been increased to 45 and 92 km, respectively. Lockheed Martin is steadily increasing the volume of production of the entire range of rockets at the enterprise located in Arkansas.

 Table 1.

The number and cost of BM 142 produced by Lockheed-Martin in the interests of the Armed Forces of foreign countries according to the supply contracts concluded after the start of its

In addition to these States, Bulgaria is negotiating the acquisition of a shipment of M142, ammunition and other related property worth a total of 1.5 billion US dollars. The BM is assembled at a facility located in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Thus, according to Chinese analysts, the rapid transfer of the M142 to Ukraine had a significant impact on the stabilization of the LBF in Ukraine. The high level of training of American military personnel – operators of the BM M142, a sufficient amount of ammunition and high maneuverability of MLRS allowed them to hit a wide range and a large number of targets. In 2022-2023, the M142 reduced the effectiveness of the rear units of the Russian Armed Forces by 17%.

The information on combat use accumulated by the military of the US Armed Forces in the period from July 2022 to January 2025 has been fully processed and systematized. This information is being implemented into the exercise and combat training programs. It is not subject to official transfer to MLRS buyers from among the armed forces of foreign countries.

Source: Chinese specialized publications