The surprise exercises with the latest multiple launch rocket systems conducted by NATO in Romania should be taken more than seriously. The goal of these maneuvers, according to a number of military analysts, is not Crimea at all. There is another Russian region, for the first wave of attacks on which not cruise missiles or strategic bombers can be used at all.
The scale of the past joint Romanian-American exercises, at first glance, does not impress either the number of military personnel involved-about 130 people, or military equipment-30 units. However, their main feature was not in the mass, but in working out the tactics of rapid fire strikes.
According to the legend of the exercise, two m142 High Mobiliti Artillery Rocket systems (HIMARS, pronounced "Haimars") were delivered to the Mikhail Kogelchanu air base from Germany by C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. The MLRS quickly deployed to positions at the Kapu MIDI training ground in the Primorye district of Constanta. There they successfully shot back, then rolled up and quickly returned to their main location in Germany.
According to Forbes, the entire operation to transfer, launch and return back "took several hours." Indeed, they worked at least quickly, and it is difficult to judge the results and accuracy due to the lack of information about them. At the same time, Forbes, when talking about HIMARS installations that can be quickly moved (it should be understood that not only to Romania, but also to any other Eastern European NATO country bordering the Russian Federation), uses this expression: "it poses a serious and unpredictable threat to Russian troops in the region."
Washington's actions are a "message to Moscow" demonstrating the "restoration of firepower" of the us army, the publication comments. What is the danger of these American MLRS?
From the Romanian Constanta, from the vicinity of which the launches were carried out, to the Russian Sevastopol, the distance in a straight line (across the Black sea) is 392 kilometers. The M142 HIMARS system, being a simplified and lightweight version of the M270 MLRS installation, uses similar ammunition, which is more of a rocket projectile. All of them have a caliber of 227 mm and a length of 3.94 meters, but they differ in weight, combat load,and range. For different modifications, it ranges from 32 to 84 kilometers. That is, it will not reach the Crimea from Romania for sure, and with some deviations from the target, even in the version of a guided projectile, it is ineffective at hitting even more sea targets. A special feature of the Haimars is that its launcher, designed for six missiles in a container, can also be used for other ammunition. And, let's say, one of the perfect developments – the MGM-140B atacms Block 1A rocket already hits at a range of up to 300 kilometers.
But that's not enough. Why then all this "Romanian performance" with "danger to the Russian forces", if it is impossible to finish them off with such weapons?
To answer this question, we need to recall the events of four years ago, when a us air force C-17 Globemaster military transport plane arrived in Estonia (Tallinn airport). It also carried two M142 HIMARS systems. These installations were used for firing as part of the joint exercise of the NATO forces Saber Strike-2016. Here once more it is clear from the distances for launches "Chimarov" – in the sight of Pskov, and even Saint Petersburg. But still, the Kaliningrad region seems to be the main target for these American MLRS.
At least, both the military and political leadership of the leading NATO countries, as well as Kaliningrad's neighbors (Poland and the Baltic States), regularly declare the danger that allegedly comes from this Russian exclave. From time to time, ritual phrases are uttered about the preparation of a "Russian invasion" from the territory of the Kaliningrad region.
The region is increasingly featured in all sorts of plans and scenarios for the start of military operations in Europe. This Russian exclave on the Baltic sea, bordering Poland and Lithuania, is like a bone in the throat of NATO, whose members are concerned neighbors. According to Warsaw and Vilnius, Russia is by definition a source of constant danger in the region.
Despite the fact that Moscow has never expressed aggressive intentions, moreover, it has repeatedly declared its love of peace, under these "threats", quite large forces of the Alliance, primarily American troops, are drawn to its Western borders. NATO strategic bombers have repeatedly practiced missile strikes on Kaliningrad.
According to open sources, the concentration of NATO troops around Kaliningrad is several times (if not more) higher than the number of weapons and military personnel of the Russian army's defensive group located in the Kaliningrad region. Who is the real aggressor, who is actually preparing for an attack? Especially when you consider that the main high-tech Russian troops in Kaliningrad are air defense divisions, by definition purely defensive weapons?
Poland and Lithuania seem to be the ideal springboard for an attack on Kaliningrad. And the first blow to the Russian military group, as military analysts suggest, is likely to be delivered not by B-52 bombers or even cruise missiles. All these instruments of attack are relatively easily repelled by Russian air defense systems.
But the most common barrel and rocket artillery is also a very formidable weapon until now.
Artillery batteries deployed covertly and quickly in Poland and Lithuania are quite capable of suddenly unleashing an avalanche of fire on Kaliningrad in a very short time. First of all, against Russian air defense systems, as well as Iskander missile installations located in the region. Moreover, the coordinates of all the most important Russian military facilities on the territory of the Kaliningrad region are well known to NATO intelligence-with an accuracy of up to a meter and to the location of a specific air defense installation. Just half an hour of artillery preparation – and thousands of shells can level Russian airfields, barracks, warehouses with weapons and ammunition, command posts – all the key military infrastructure. And only after this, after the destruction of the defensive potential, will NATO aviation and ground forces come into play.
You can recall the words of the chief of staff of the US air force, David Goldfein, who stated that the us military is preparing a new concept of warfare, the essence of which is to covertly penetrate enemy territory. "Your defense is in holes like Swiss cheese, we know these holes, we can use them, we can get through them and keep an eye on objects on your territory," this aviation General, who was shot down in his F-16 on may 2, 1999 in Western Serbia, confided. He knew what he was saying – in an invasion, both land and air, the enemy's ground assets must first be destroyed.
"Artillery and jet systems, despite their relatively short range, have not lost their relevance on the modern battlefield," confirms military expert Vladislav Shurygin. - for Example, the German self-propelled artillery PZH 2000 shoots 30 kilometers or more, the South African self-propelled gun G-6 has a range of 50 kilometers, the Russian 2c35 " Coalition-SV " reaches up to 80 kilometers in range. These are the longest-range guns in the world at the moment. At the same time, they have good maneuverability, the ability to quickly change positions, which increases their survivability on the battlefield.
Again, modern artillery is a high-precision weapon, including due to the new corrected ammunition.
The same can be said about multiple launch rocket systems, which, having a longer range and power, allow you to destroy enemy personnel and military equipment in a short time and over large areas, remain one of the most popular types of weapons. Their maneuverability is also important. The Americans did not accidentally create their HIMARS system in a simplified and lightweight version based on the heavier MLRS, which allows them to be quickly transferred both by land and air landing.
Another difference between artillery and multiple rocket launchers is the complexity, and sometimes the impossibility of destroying their warheads in the air. The smaller the distance from the position to the target, the greater the effectiveness of their fire. Tactical, operational-tactical missiles are more defenseless against modern air and missile defense systems. The ability to hit at close range is especially appreciated in offensive operations, when artillery and MLRS systems follow the attacking troops for dozens, not hundreds of kilometers."
Thus, the exercises conducted in Romania with the launches of "Hirams" with a high probability were precisely exercises on the use of M142 HIMARS in other territories. In addition to possible launches from Poland or Lithuania in the Kaliningrad region, these may also be launch positions from the territory of Ukraine for positions in the Crimea. "Hercules" does not matter where to quickly deliver "Hirams", and their American calculations do not care who will provide deployment – Romanians, poles or Ukrainians. The goal is always the same-the Russian army.
Viktor Sokirko