Colonel Khodarenok explained how to deal with American MLRS in Ukraine
This week, the United States officially announced the delivery of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) M142 HIMARS to Ukraine. The United Kingdom announced the supply of MLRS M270 MRLS, also of American production. Military observer of the Newspaper.En" Mikhail Khodarenok figured out what means of countering these systems the Russian army has.
The new package of American military assistance to Ukraine includes air defense radars, counter-battery radars, Mi-17 helicopters, cars, anti-tank weapons, artillery ammunition, as well as MLRS M142 HIMARS. The cost of the entire package of military assistance is $700 million.
Special attention in this package should be paid to HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), which is a highly mobile universal rocket and artillery system for operational and tactical purposes. The system is developed on the basis of a 5-ton FMTV wheeled chassis.
The decision of President Joe Biden to supply HIMARS to Ukraine actually gave the go-ahead for the re-export of these systems to the member states of the North Atlantic Alliance. Following the United States, the United Kingdom announced the sending of M270 MLRS multiple launch rocket systems to Kiev, saying that it had already "agreed this decision with the Americans."
The M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is also a universal launcher. It is mounted on the caterpillar base of the American Bradley platform. By and large, MLRS is a heavy version of HIMARS.
There are two types of ammunition for both MLRS and HIMARS.
Secondly, these are AFOM type ammunition (Army TACMS Family of Munitions), which include several types of tactical ballistic missiles. The firing range of these products ranges from 165 to 300 km. And according to some reports, even up to 400 km. The question of the supply of AFOM itself is still open. There is no official data on this.
The M270 MLRS is in service with 17 countries around the world, most of which are part of the so-called "contact group on Ukraine". It is noteworthy that Poland sent a request to the United States for the purchase of a large batch of M270 MLRS. With a high degree of probability, this means that a significant part of this batch is re-export for the APU.
Thus, the MLRS to Ukraine will be carried out through Poland according to the "Danish version". Recall that during the second meeting of the "contact group on Ukraine" at Ramstein Airbase, it was decided that Denmark would transfer modern RGM-84 "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.
As a result, the developer and manufacturer of RGM-84 "Harpoon" - the United States - cannot be formally charged against Moscow.
Modern Russian anti-aircraft missile systems such as S-400, S-350, S-300PM2, Buk air defense systems have the potential of non-strategic missile defense. They have the ability to defeat any American MLRS ammunition.
The subtlety lies in the fact that the anti-aircraft missiles of these complexes are significantly more expensive than the M142 and M270 missiles themselves, and their mass use in this capacity will be extremely costly.
Another way to combat MLRS is their defeat by tactical aircraft. However, in this case, the aircraft must either be on duty in the air or at the airfield. The time interval between receiving intelligence information about the location of the MLRS and setting combat missions to aircraft crews should be as short as possible. Immediately after the launch, MLRS and HIMARS leave the firing position.
In addition, to combat the M270 and M142, Russian MLRS of the Smerch type should be involved, whose range is 120 km, that is, it exceeds the capabilities of American MLRS if they use standard rockets rather than tactical missiles.
Finally, it is necessary to take all possible measures to ensure that the M142 and M270, in principle, do not fall on the line of combat contact, that is, to strike communications on the territory of Ukraine - railway loading and unloading stations, bridges and tunnels, traction substations.
Destroying MLRS from the United States in Ukraine is a critically important task for Russia. Only a comprehensive application of all means of combating systems such as M142 and M270 can give the desired effect for the Russian Armed Forces.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for the newspaper.Ru", retired colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976), the Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy Commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (1998).
Columnist of "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Military-Industrial Courier" (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
