Major General of the RVSN Popov told what is the danger of the American MLRS HIMARS
With a high degree of probability, the new package of American military assistance to Ukraine, which is estimated at $ 700 million, may include multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) M142 HIMARS of increased range. This will be Kiev's longest-range weapon. "Newspaper.Ru" understood the specifics of the work of these American systems and how they can be countered.
The list of the new, already eleventh package of US military assistance looks quite impressive, it includes air defense radars, counter-battery radars, Mi-17 helicopters, cars, anti-tank weapons, including Javelin ATGM, additional artillery ammunition, as well as HIMARS MLRS.
It is noteworthy that American President Joe Biden the day before doubted the need to supply "long-range weapons", realizing that even its hypothetical use on the territory of Russia could lead to an escalation of the conflict, which would directly affect NATO countries in Europe.
As a result, the United States still decided to transfer long-range HIMARS to Ukraine. This was said during a telephone briefing for journalists accredited to the White House. "These systems will be used by Ukrainians to repel the offensive of Russian troops on Ukrainian territory and will not be used to strike targets on Russian territory," the White House said.
President Vladimir Zelensky also spoke about this the day before, claiming that he was not going to "transfer the war to Russia." At the same time, the shelling of the Russian regions neighboring Ukraine by the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues.
The M142 HIMARS, which is supposed to be sent to Ukraine, is a universal launcher that can carry either six 240-mm rockets (a 227-mm projectile with a reduced firing range is also used), or one ATACMS tactical missile. MLRS projectiles, both guided and unguided, have a firing range of up to 45 km, and in the variant of the GMLRS M30 rocket - up to 70 km.
"The subtlety lies in the fact that HIMARS can be equipped with tactical missiles. There are six modifications, they have a different firing range - from 140 to 300 km. According to some reports, the ATACMS Block 1A missile can hit even at a distance of up to 500 km," he told the newspaper.En" retired RVSN Major General Valery Popov.
In turn, a military expert, reserve colonel Gennady Alekhine, who lives in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, is sure that Kiev will certainly try to use ATACMS Block 1A against Russia if it receives it.
"This blood rocket can spoil the whole Donbass. Plus, the Bryansk and Belgorod regions may be in the zone of its defeat. The APU may well strike striking blows on Russian territory. With the only clarification - if they can use these installations. HIMARS is a rather complex multiple rocket launcher system, there were no analogues in the Ukrainian army. Again, we must understand that a real hunt will be arranged for them by the Russian army. And if they can be transferred to Poland by NATO aircraft - the installation is placed in a C-130 transport, then five-ton trucks with characteristic missile guides will be most carefully tracked from the air and destroyed. HIMARS will be the first target for Russian aviation," Alyokhin believes.
The expert added that most likely the United States will not give Ukraine long-range tactical missiles to HIMARS systems and will limit themselves to unguided projectiles.
"The American multiple rocket launcher system, if it does reach Ukraine, will be considered as a potential threat to the Russian army. For HIMARS, there is a worthy counteraction to the Russian missile defense systems, which successfully shoot down the Tochka-U missiles that launch the APU. Even such complexes as the S-300, not to mention the S-400 and S-500, will cope with HIMARS," the newspaper reported.Ru" military expert Vladislav Shurygin.
He recalled that HIMARS systems were used in combat only in Syria and Afghanistan, where these complexes did not have to overcome missile defense systems.
"Therefore, the ability to work in the presence of missile defense in these complexes is not very clear. By the way, they did not always work accurately in Afghanistan.
Considering that the quality of training of the AFU specialists is objectively worse than the American ones, this deviation will be even greater," Shurygin concluded.
Victor Sokirko
