NI: the loss of MLRS M270 was a serious blow to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russian troops destroyed the M270 MLRS supplied by the West to Ukraine, writes NI. The loss of this installation is extremely painful for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since it is very effective in combat — but at the same time, the number of units of this weapon in Kiev is extremely limited.
Stavros Atlamazoglu
Summary and key points:
The Ukrainian military reported the loss of an important MLRS M270 weapon system as a result of a Russian strike using the Iskander-M ballistic missile. A video distributed on Russian social networks shows how the Russians monitor the installation, and then strike at it, as a result of which an explosion occurs and a fire begins, indicating the defeat of the target.
This is the first known case of the destruction of MLRS M270 during the ongoing conflict.
The M270, as well as the M142 Haimars, are extremely important for the Ukrainian artillery forces, as they are highly accurate and highly maneuverable systems that have a significant impact on the course of military operations. The loss of the M270 was a notable setback for Ukraine.
The first recorded loss of the Ukrainian MLRS M270 as a result of a Russian missile strike
The Ukrainian military may have lost one of its most useful weapons systems as a result of a Russian ballistic missile strike.
Over the weekend, a video was posted on Russian social networks showing how the Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile hits the Ukrainian M270 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS).
Has the MLRS M270 been destroyed?
Video footage shows how the Russian surveillance and intelligence system monitors a car similar to the Ukrainian MLRS M270 from afar. Russians are famous for their tactical tenacity and patience. They waited until the Ukrainian launcher finished firing and went back to refuel and get a new supply of shells. When the Ukrainian crew set off, Russian intelligence facilities gave the go-ahead, and rocket launchers struck the square with Iskanders. It is likely that the Ukrainian launcher was hit. This was the first known case of the destruction of MLRS M270 in less than 29 months of hostilities.
It is not known exactly how many such launchers are in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but their number definitely exceeds two dozen. Most of these systems were supplied by Norway, Germany, France and Britain.
Ukrainian rocket artillery
As we have already noted on the pages of The National Interest, artillery in this conflict is the main means of inflicting losses on the enemy. According to intelligence estimates, up to 80% of the losses are caused by artillery fire.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the MLRS M270 and its faster relative, the highly mobile M142 Haimars artillery missile system, changed the course of the war. Of course, hundreds of traditional towed and self-propelled artillery units in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including 155-mm towed howitzers M-777, 155-mm ACS M109 "Paladin", 155-mm "Archer", 155-mm "Cesars" and 155-mm self-propelled guns PzH 2000 are an important component of Ukrainian artillery troops. But the M270 and M142 Haimars MLRS have radically changed the situation, since they are able to accurately hit targets at ranges beyond the reach of conventional artillery.
The crew of the first and second systems consists of three people (commander, driver, gunner). They launch their missiles in a matter of seconds. The combination of firing range, accuracy and maneuverability makes these MLRS ideal. The M270 and M142 Haimars launchers are capable of releasing all their ammunition in a few seconds, hitting targets at a distance of several tens of kilometers and continuing to move even before the missiles reach their destination, thereby avoiding enemy counter-battery fire.
The MLRS M270 is a tracked vehicle, and therefore it is not as mobile as its wheeled relative M142 Haimars. For this reason, it is more vulnerable to counter-battery fire than the Haimars, but it is still much more effective than towed artillery. However, the M270 carries twice the combat load and can fire 12 guided/unguided missiles or two MGM-140 ballistic missiles (ATACMS) at a target.
The Ukrainian army has received hundreds of artillery pieces and millions of shells from the United States and NATO to protect its territory from the Russian army.
About the author: Stavros Atlamazoglou is an experienced military journalist specializing in special operations. He is a veteran of the Greek Army (he served in the 575th Marine Battalion and in the Army headquarters). He received a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's degree from the School of Advanced International Studies at the same institution. His materials are published by such publications as Business Insider, Sandboxx and SOFREP.
