MOSCOW, July 21 — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. Ukraine will soon receive new weapons from the West. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexey Danilov said that the United States will transfer a batch of long-range missiles for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Kiev seriously believes that these munitions are capable of turning the situation around at the front. Is this really the case — in the RIA Novosti material.
Two types of projectiles
HIMARS is the successor to the M270 MLRS, adopted in 1983. Differences: wheelbase instead of tracked, fewer guides (six, not twelve) and more advanced fire control. The system replenishes ammunition faster and changes position after a salvo, and is also integrated into the modern reconnaissance and strike contour of NATO countries. Simply put, it hits far and accurately, using the information of Western means of intelligence and targeting.
American highly mobile rocket and artillery system for operational and tactical purposes HIMARS
Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Jennifer Reyes
So far, the APU has received eight mobile launchers on a wheeled chassis from the Pentagon. They promise four more.
They are already participating in combat operations and striking at the near rear of the Allied forces. Targets — ammunition depots, observation posts, headquarters. The speed at which the cars are able to shoot back and leave, seriously complicates their destruction. However, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the defeat of at least two complexes.
So far, Kiev has two types of ammunition at its disposal — M26 and GMLRS M30. The first is an unguided 227-millimeter projectile with a cluster warhead and a firing range of up to 45 kilometers. In fact, it is a close analogue of the 9M59 for the Russian "Hurricane".
M30 — GPS-corrected projectiles with an inertial control system and a range of up to 80 kilometers. They beat, according to the Donetsk military, very accurately.
Long - range argument
The Russian Tornado-S MLRS has correctable projectiles with the same guidance scheme: an inertial system plus satellite correction. But the range is much longer — 120 kilometers. As well as the caliber — 300 millimeters. The more powerful and striking part.
MLRS "Tornado-S"
Image Source: © Photo : NGO "Splav"
Kiev has long been begging the West for ammunition capable of blocking the range of Russian artillery. And, apparently, he will finally get it. Danilov did not name a specific type of projectile, but we can only talk about operational and tactical ATACMS missiles. The APU wants to hit targets with them in the depths of Russian territory.
ATACMS is an operational and tactical complex of the Lockheed Martin concern with a short—range ballistic missile. In service since 1991, repeatedly used in the Middle East.
However, it is unknown how these shells will show themselves in Ukraine. Ammunition of this type has not yet encountered a developed air defense system. In terms of complexity for interception, analysts say, they do not differ much from the Ukrainian "Dots-U", which are successfully shot down.
Symbolic help
The range of ATACMS in the MGM-140B Block 1A modification is 300 kilometers. In fact, this is the Iskander OTRK on "minimalki" — the Russian complex hits 500 kilometers.
The Western analogue is also very accurate — thanks to the powerful satellite grouping of NATO countries. The head part is cassette (275 combat elements) or high-explosive fragmentation (226 kilograms).
American highly mobile rocket and artillery system for operational and tactical purposes HIMARS
Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Megan Ozaki
According to the official representative of the DPR army Eduard Basurin, several ATACMS missiles are already somewhere in Ukraine. The military admits: these munitions are capable of doing a lot of bad things. Now HIMARS complexes located on the borders of Kiev—controlled territories, in theory, also reach Russian cities - Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov-on-Don. Three nuclear power plants may be hit. And a rocket launched from near Zaporozhye will reach the Crimean Bridge.
However, many experts doubt that Kiev will go for it. Such an attack will be answered. And, as the Kremlin has repeatedly stressed, "much tougher." Besides, it is unlikely that it will be allowed in the West.
As Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated in an interview with Izvestia, HIMARS complexes in Ukraine are operated by American military instructors and gunners. And if, with their direct participation, missiles strike Kursk or Voronezh, this can be interpreted as direct US aggression against Russia. And Kiev's allies are trying to avoid such a scenario. Therefore, the number of delivered MLRS is still rather symbolic.
"If you read the Ukrainian media, then only six complexes have time literally everywhere — just amazing mobility for such a huge front line! — military expert Alexey Leonkov notes. — Then they pop up in the Izyumsko-Kharkiv direction, then immediately in Donetsk and immediately under Kakhovka, and everywhere they are as effective as possible. In Kiev, they make a "miracle weapon" out of HIMARS, but, judge for yourself, how could six installations cause so much trouble?"
Ukrainian servicemen are firing from an 82-millimeter mortar
Image Source: © AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov said that to stop the advance of the Russian Armed Forces, the AFU needs 50 "Haimars", and for a counteroffensive — over 100. However, it is unlikely that the Pentagon is ready to satisfy such appetites: there are no more than 400 MLRS of this type in the US arsenals today.
American generals closely monitor the course of hostilities and draw conclusions: artillery remains the "god of war" in the XXI century. So the free distribution of MLRS with ammunition is an excessive waste even for the United States. And a dozen "Haimars" on such an extended front will not change the overall situation.
Andrey Kotz
