For the first time, Ukraine used the American M142 HIMARS medium-range Himars MLRS that arrived in Ukraine to deliver the first strikes.
The Ukrainian military has published the first video footage of the use of the multiple launch rocket system M142 Himars. According to preliminary data, the strikes were delivered a day earlier, which was already reported by Ukrainian information resources, although no official confirmation of this information was provided.
The video footage presented shows the strikes of at least seven long-range M-30A1 rockets, with a target destruction range of up to 70 kilometers. In which direction the strikes were carried out and what became the goal of the Ukrainian military is not specified, however, the United States is directly involved in the strikes with these weapons, since earlier in Washington they announced that they would fully control the use of these weapons and give out coordinates for striking blows.
First glance at the work of HIMARS MLRS in #Ukraine.
We are grateful to our allies! With quick and sufficient supplies Ukraine will not only be able to reach parity but move on to counterattacks. We believe in it! #UkraineRussianWar #UkraineWillWin pic.twitter.com/wuHi6cB3kV
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 24, 2022
We’re grateful to President @POTUS and the American people for the decision to provide another $450 million defense aid package to . This support, including additional HIMARS, is now more important than ever. By joint efforts, we will free land from the Russian aggressor! said by Ukrainian president Zelensky.
Journalists from the Avia.pro news agency managed to find out that two Himars M142 MLRS systems, captured on video, were deployed in the south of Ukraine, in the Odessa region, while two more launchers are located in the central part of Ukraine.
Earlier, the State Duma of the Russian Federation called for strikes against Kyiv for the supply of these weapons to the United States.
“In my opinion, today the reaction should also take place on those countries that supply weapons. And not just to destroy infrastructure and so on, but I think the main decision-making center is the US Embassy. I think that sooner or later this will become a target for the Russian armed forces. My position is that it is necessary to destroy the government quarter in Kyiv, it is necessary to destroy the corresponding points. Yes, this work is being carried out by the Ministry of Defense, but more massive strikes need to be delivered , ”said Yury Shvytkin, a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
The M142 Himars system (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a modernised, lighter and more agile wheel-mounted version of the track-mounted M270 MLRS developed in the 1970s for US and allied forces.
The Himars that Washington is providing to Ukraine will have a range of about 50 miles (80km), a US official told reporters.
Himars units carry one preloaded pod of six 227mm guided missiles (the M270 carries two pods), or one large pod loaded with an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) tactical missile. The US will not supply Ukraine with the ATACMS, which has a range of 300km.
With a small crew, the Himars can remove a spent pod and load a fresh one in minutes, without other vehicles helping. The crews will require some training.
The US military already has Himars units in Europe; and Nato allies Poland and Romania have acquired the systems.
Why are they valuable?
Himars will give Ukraine’s forces the ability to strike further behind Russian lines, and at distances better protected from Russia’s own long-range weaponry.
The GPS-guided missiles the Himars shoots have a range about double that of the M777 howitzers that the US recently supplied to Ukraine forces.
At roughly 80km it generally puts Himars out of range of Russia’s own artillery, while placing the Russian batteries at risk.