Can HIMARS be a game changer?
There are some even claiming that Russian S400 have failed to detect the Ukrainian artillery supplied by US. Ukrainian are considering this as a game changer weapon – which is definitely good for the moral of their armed forces. Some media houses are even claiming that merely 8 HIMARS have changed the course of war. However, we are living in an era of information war fare so its important to decode the facts and bust the misinformation. In today’s video we will attempt the same.
USA has supplied eight American HIMARS to Ukrainian forces and four more are expected to arrive by the end of the July.
M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
First lets try to understand what is HIMARS. The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a light multiple rocket launcher. The system contains only one pod to decrease its weight and is mounted on a truck instead of an armoured, tracked vehicle to increase its speed. This renders the system capable of shoot and scoot attacks.
Its single pod can carry either six GMLRS rockets, or two PrSM missiles, or one ATACMS missile and can launch the entire Multiple Launch Rocket System Family of Munitions (MFOM). Its range varies from 2-300KM and even 500KM depending upon the types of ammunition used. If unguided rockets are used, its range is limited to just 9km. However with Guided rocket, the projectile can reach maximum range of 150km which is quite significant. It can also fire Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which is a series of 610 mm surface-to-surface missile (SSM) with a range of up to 300 km (190 mi). Each rocket pod contains one ATACMS missile. In Future, the ATACMS is planned to be replaced with PrSM or Precision Strike Missile. (PrSM) is a new series of GPS-guided missile has a range of 60–499 km. Each rockets pods contain 2 missiles.
What has happened?
Now, lets try to understand what has happened that has created so much of noise on social media regarding HIMARS. On Monday, July 11, a massive explosion rocked the Ukrainian town of Nova Kakhovka in the southern Kherson region. As per Ukrainian military officials, it was a strike on a Russian ammunition depot. Even the Ukrainian presidential aide attributed the success of the attack to the use of the US-supplied HIMARS system.
As per some media reports, more than a dozen major Russian supply depots, primarily used to store artillery ammunition, have been attacked by the long range HIMARS rockets in the past few days.
The Russian-installed administration in the region however said the strike destroyed chemical warehouses. Its difficult to validate which side is correct, however once cannot deny the effectiveness of the HIMARS.
Even though HIMARS can fire upto a range of 300KM using ATACMS ammunition however Ukrainian forces does not have that ammunition. According to the Financial Times, the Ukrainians have asked Washington to provide longer range ATACMS that can be used with HIMARS. But the request was denied. As per reports, USA has supplied the guided rockets to Ukrainian forces which has a range of 70km which is still significant and can answer to Russian shelling.
Beyond the physical damage, these rockets are going to have huge psychological impact. It’s because with range of 70KM, much of the Russian forces falls in the range of HIMARS and can be bad for moral of Russian troops.
S-400 Vs HIMARS
Now, there are even reports claiming the Russian S400 was unable to stop the HIMARS rockets. Its important to understand that what is the use of S400 system. Its still undoubtedly the best air defense system in the world to defend against aircrafts, cruise missiles and even ballistic missiles. However, its not designed to track rockets and artillery shell. For detecting artillery or shell fire, Indian army is using Swathi WLR. Israel which is under the frequent rocket attacks from Hamas uses Iron Dome for protection which is quite effective against the projectile having range between 4-70km.
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