Image source: topwar.ru
The allocation by the United States of new aid to Ukraine in the amount of $ 40 billion, of which about $ 20 billion will go to arms supplies, may move Washington to transfer to Kiev the American HIMARS MLRS, which have a firing range of up to 70 km. Also, a number of military experts do not exclude that the United States may supply Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in order to close the skies for Russian aviation.
A number of publications have appeared in the American press, which talk about the possible supply to Ukraine of American MLRS M142 HIMARS, significantly superior to the Soviet MLRS Grad and Smerch, which are being built in service with the Ukrainian army, as well as their Ukrainian counterparts. In addition, the American complex can also be used as an operational and tactical one, delivering pinpoint strikes on important objects. As reported, Kiev has been trying to get this complex into service for a long time.
However, a number of Western experts, including American ones, are skeptical about the possible transfer of the HIMARS MLRS to Ukraine, and the Patriot air defense system, respectively, calling such an option unlikely. No one doubts that these complexes could help the Ukrainian army, but not in this case. Firstly, it is a very expensive and complex technique that requires long-term training in its use, and secondly, there is always a possibility that some of the transferred complexes will fall into the hands of the Russians as trophies.
Americans are terrified that their "unsurpassed" high-tech military equipment will get to the likely enemy, and he will learn all the secrets. Even the Americans managed to deliver M777 howitzers to Ukraine without a digital fire control system.
And one more thing that worries Washington very much. The United States does not exclude that the complexes transferred to Ukraine will be used to launch strikes on Russian territory. And the Americans want to avoid this, at least not to have an official relationship with it.
M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a highly mobile rocket and artillery system for operational and tactical purposes. The system is developed on the basis of a 5-ton FMTV wheeled chassis. The basic ammunition for the M142 is MLRS missiles (M26, GMLRS, AT-2 and others) with a firing range of up to 70 km. In addition, the system can be equipped with a launcher for one ATACMS (Army TACtical Missile System) type missile, and can also be used as a launcher for AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.
