American MLRS for the Ukrainian army
MLRS M270 firing MFOM rounds
Since the beginning of the Special Operation, the Ukrainian army has lost more than 280 multiple rocket launchers. It is planned to make up for such losses by obtaining equipment from foreign countries. Several countries have already transferred their MLRS to Ukraine, and new deliveries are expected. In particular, the Ukrainian army expects to receive American military vehicles and missiles. It is assumed that they will be able to quantitatively and qualitatively strengthen its missile units.
Jet Aid
Almost immediately after the start of the Special Operation, the Kyiv regime began to talk about the need to supply foreign cannon and rocket artillery. However, over the next few weeks, this topic did not receive any development. At this time, the Russian army was methodically knocking out the Ukrainian MLRS, and the park was not restored.
The situation began to change only by mid-April, when the first samples of rocket artillery from abroad arrived in Ukraine. Such deliveries began with RM-70 products from the Czech Republic in the amount of at least 20 units. It was also reported about the transfer of the same number of BM-21 Grad systems from the presence of the Polish army. It was reported about the fundamental possibility of continuing such deliveries by the forces of the Czech Republic, Poland or other European countries.
ATACMS missile launch from M270 launcher
Obviously, the help in the form of 40-50 combat vehicles and a certain amount of rockets is not enough. It will not even allow to approach the indicators of the recent past, not to mention their growth. However, in the current situation, even outdated MLRS matter.
April 21 curious news came from the USA. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland spoke about the latest measures and plans for military-technical support to Ukraine. According to her, the latest aid package provides for the supply of MLRS and other artillery systems. Moreover, the supply of such products has already begun. Washington is also working with other NATO countries to increase the supply of multiple rocket launchers.
What systems the United States sends to the Kyiv regime, in what quantities and from what time, is not reported. At the same time, American rocket artillery in Ukraine has not yet been noticed. Perhaps a new batch of military vehicles will be delivered in the near future, and then all the main details of such assistance will become known. In particular, it will be found out whether foreign aid provided for the supply of modern equipment.
M142 carries only one ATACMS missile
Subject of interest
According to known data, the Ukrainian army is showing great interest in American MLRS, such as the M270 MLRS or M142 HIMARS. The reasons for this interest are simple and understandable. These are rather high tactical and technical characteristics of these systems, as well as the ability to solve various combat missions. In addition, it should be taken into account that MLRS and HIMARS are US developments - and this in itself attracts the attention of the Kyiv leadership and generates inadequate estimates.
Products M270 and M142 are self-propelled multiple launch rocket systems on different chassis and with a unified firing unit. They are capable of using a wide range of "conventional" rockets of the MFOM family, as well as ATACMS operational-tactical missiles. All ammunition is placed in unified containers with several launch guides. MLRS MLRS, due to a larger launcher, carries two such containers with 12 rockets or a pair of ATACMS missiles. The HIMARS ammunition load is half that.
The MFOM line includes several types and modifications of missiles with different characteristics, load, etc. Depending on the type of projectile, the maximum range reaches 70 km. Work continues on a new missile with a range of 150 km. Monobloc warheads weighing up to 90 kg and cassettes with fragmentation or anti-tank submunitions are used. A projectile with a GBU-39 / B SDB guided bomb was developed as a warhead.
Container loading on M142 unit
Products of the ATACMS family are full-fledged and full-sized operational-tactical ballistic missiles. Depending on the model and modification, they have a range of 128 to 300 km and carry a monobloc high-explosive or cluster warhead weighing up to 560 kg.
Thus, the M270 and M142 systems are capable of solving several basic tasks. MFOM ammunition allows them to work like traditional MLRS and attack area targets at a distance of tens of kilometers. When using ATACMS products, the combat vehicle becomes a full-fledged OTRK and can hit point remote targets. Launchers initially have all the necessary functions, which simplifies the preparation and execution of the strike.
However, two American MLRS are facing some problems. The main one is the obsolescence of part of the ammunition. First of all, this concerns ATACMS missiles. The last product of the family was created at the beginning of the XNUMXs, and now they plan to replace it. In the MFOM line, the situation is slightly better, but the development of new projectiles is necessary.
Fight against the threat
It is not known whether the Ukrainian army will receive American MLRS. Also questionable is the quantity and timing of deliveries. However, the appearance of such systems by the Kyiv regime is associated with certain risks for our army, as well as for civilian facilities in Donbass and Ukraine. This must be taken into account - and appropriate measures taken.
From the point of view of the main characteristics, the M270 and M142 are more advanced analogues of the systems in service with Ukraine. So, MLRS with MFOM ammunition can be compared with the Soviet Uragans or Tornadoes. When using ATACMS products, they become a functional analogue of Tochka-U, but with higher range characteristics.
A characteristic factor is the amount of technology. So far, deliveries of foreign artillery systems to Ukraine are limited to dozens of units, and MLRS are not transferred en masse. Accordingly, the real fire capabilities in the current situation are seriously reduced. In addition, the Ukrainian army will again face the problem of personnel training. MLRS or HIMARS cannot be operated by the existing crews of full-time MLRS, and it takes time to retrain them.
Apparently, the threat from foreign MLRS, incl. the most advanced American designs will not be critical. In recent weeks, our air defense has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to detect and destroy flying rockets and operational-tactical missiles. It should be noted that our air defense has not yet encountered American missiles of the two families. However, these threats are not fundamentally new, so studying them and gaining the necessary experience will not become a complex and lengthy process.
The Russian army carries out reconnaissance of enemy positions by various means. This means that imported MLRS may come under retaliatory or preemptive strike. Depending on various circumstances and factors, cannon or rocket artillery can “work out” according to MLRS or HIMARS, aviation and even UAVs - with equally understandable results.
However, it would be best not to bring the matter to blows from the enemy. The optimal solution would be the timely detection of enemy equipment at the stage of transportation or advancement to a position with subsequent defeat. In this case, this or that damage will be done to the transport infrastructure, which will complicate the subsequent deliveries of weapons and equipment.
Predictable outcome
Ukraine has already received a number of foreign multiple launch rocket systems and is now waiting for American-made equipment. How soon and in what quantity it will arrive is unknown. However, the difficulties associated with obtaining such assistance, as well as its very limited prospects, are already clear.
Given the experience of recent weeks, it should be expected that Ukraine will not be able to realize the full potential of foreign MLRS and will lose them quickly enough. Nevertheless, such equipment may have time to be used to deliver new strikes against military and civilian targets. Therefore, our army will take into account such a threat and take the necessary measures.
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