The technical potential of the MLRS / HIMARS MLRS and the fight against them
M270 firing an unguided missile. Photo by the US Department of Defense
Over the past few weeks, the possibility of supplying American multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine has been discussed. At the very end of May, it became known that the United States nevertheless decided to take such a step, and now other countries are going to do the same. The MLRS offered for delivery have good technical and combat potential, which is why they pose a certain danger.
foreign helpers
The possibility of sending American MLRS to Ukraine has been discussed since February-March, but until recently everything remained at the level of general conversations. It was only on June 1 that it was officially announced that a certain number of M142 HIMARS systems and their “battlefield” ammunition would be included in the next package of military-technical assistance from the United States. Volumes and terms of deliveries have not yet been called.
Almost simultaneously with the United States, Great Britain announced its plans. She is also going to help the Kyiv regime with rocket artillery. Its immediate deliveries will include a certain number of M270 MLRS MLRS and ammunition of unnamed types.
Also on the first day of June, the German press reported that Berlin had similar plans. Germany is going to provide MARS 2 systems, which are a European version of the upgrade of the original M270, as assistance. The necessary equipment will be taken from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. The volumes of delivery attract attention - as many as four combat vehicles.
Launch of the M30/31 guided missile. Photos Lockheed Martin
The number of MLRS and ammunition planned for transfer is still unknown. In addition, it is not clear if the US, UK and Germany will remain the sole suppliers of the M270 and M142. Such equipment is in service with a number of other countries that have already provided their assistance to Ukraine. These states can also share their MLRS.
Together with self-propelled launchers, a number of types of ammunition intended for use in the volley fire mode will be transferred. At the same time, the United States limits the range of ammunition supplied and is not going to transfer products with the greatest range, incl. tactical missiles. In addition, Washington will demand not to use missiles on targets in Russia in order to avoid escalation.
Universal platforms
Consider the main technical features and combat qualities of two American MLRS, which determine the characteristics and combat value of such equipment. We will also try to find ways and means of its prompt neutralization or complete destruction.
MLRS M270 is made in the form of a tracked vehicle with a pronounced cabin and a launcher for unguided missiles. The chassis of this type is built on the BMP M2 Bradley units and has high mobility and cross-country characteristics. The maximum speed on the highway reaches 64 km / h, the cruising range is 480 km.
Launcher M270 without containers. Photo Missilery.info
The hull, cockpit and launcher have anti-bullet / anti-fragmentation armor. The launcher with remotely controlled drives accommodates two standard transport and launch containers, each of which carries from 1 to 6 missiles of one type or another. TPK is loaded onto the installation using its own lifting device.
The MLRS fire control systems have been repeatedly upgraded. The latest versions of the SLA are equipped with satellite navigation devices and digital computers. There are also devices for programming corrected missiles. The MARS 2 modification received the original EFCS FCS, made on European components. It is curious that the development of EFCS took into account the existing convention on cluster munitions, and it does not allow the use of missiles with such a load.
The M142 system is built on a wheeled chassis, which offers mobility advantages. It develops a speed of up to 85 km/h and can make long marches on roads without the use of a tanker. At the same time, booking the cabin and launcher is again provided.
HIMARS uses the original reduced launcher for one TPK. Especially for this MLRS in the 270s, a new SLA was developed that ensures the use of all existing ammunition and is suitable for integrating new ones. Subsequently, such a system was used to upgrade MXNUMX products.
The design of the M26A1 / A2 shells. Missilery.info graphics
Ammunition Nomenclature
A wide range of unguided and guided missiles of 227 mm caliber has been developed for the MLRS and HIMARS. At different times, products with different ranges, combat load and capabilities were offered and adopted. In addition, an ATACMS or PrSM tactical missile can be placed in a unified TPK, but such products can not be considered in the context of deliveries to Ukraine.
The first ammunition for the M270 was the M26 rocket. She had a range of 32 km and carried a cluster warhead. The latter contained 677 M77 HEAT-fragmentation submunitions. On the basis of the M26, upgraded M26A1 / A2 were made with other combat elements. They also developed training missiles of the M28 and M28A1 series. The first was distinguished by the use of an inert warhead, and the second also received a lightweight engine charge. The range dropped to 9 km, and the requirements for firing ranges were also reduced. In Germany, based on the M26, they created the AT2 remote mining missile, it carries 28 anti-tank mines of the same name.
A later development is the GMLRS (Guided MLRS) sub-series ammunition. It includes an M30 projectile with a range of 60 km, equipped with a trajectory correction system. The base variant of the M30 carries a cassette with 404 M85 submunitions. Modifications of the M30A1 / A2 were also developed, which received monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warheads.
A further development of the M30 is the M31 rocket. Such a product received a 90-kg monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warhead and retains controls. The flight range was increased to 70 km. Various upgrade options for the M31 were proposed, incl. with the introduction of new combat units.
MLRS M142. The guide pipes for the missiles are clearly visible. Photo by the US Department of Defense
To date, work has been completed on the next ammunition, designated as GMLRS-ER (Extended Range). It is another modification of the M30/31 rocket and features a new engine with an increased charge of solid propellant. Due to this, the firing range was increased to 150 km. The accuracy remained the same.
Elimination of the threat
American MLRS and their missiles pose a significant threat to our troops and civilian facilities in the liberated territories. The elimination of such a threat is fundamentally possible, and our army has all the necessary means and methods. Moreover, they have already been demonstrated in practice, albeit in different contexts.
Foreign combat vehicles and ammunition can be destroyed before entering the combat zone. Our army has repeatedly shown its ability to detect and destroy military cargo at the stage of transportation. The existing reconnaissance and strike systems are quite capable of coping with new cargoes in the form of MLRS / HIMARS.
The target for new strikes will also be discovered parking lots of equipment and storage of ammunition in the near rear. Some samples can be intercepted already when entering the firing position or when leaving it. It is quite possible that the vehicles received will be destroyed even before the first attempt at combat use.
Shooting HIMARS. Photo by the US Department of Defense
M270 and M142 are highly mobile, which complicates the work of reconnaissance. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the previously destroyed Ukrainian MLRS could also quickly move along the roads and change positions. Such opportunities did not help them and did not save them from detection and subsequent destruction.
The process of destroying American MLRS can be hampered by the availability of reservations. However, a massive artillery strike with a high probability of a direct hit or guided weapons solve this problem. In addition, anti-fragmentation armor does not exclude the possibility of damage to certain units with a loss of progress or combat capability.
However, the enemy will do everything possible so that the combat vehicles can enter the firing positions and fire. By launching missiles, artillery reconnaissance will be able to detect the position of the MLRS and issue target designation to fire weapons. With sufficient speed of these systems, the first launch will be the last.
In addition, military air defense will join the work, which will have to shoot down launched shells. In terms of technical and ballistic characteristics, missiles for MLRS / HIMARS are similar to the shells of the Uragan and Smerch systems. In recent months, Russian anti-aircraft gunners have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to detect and shoot down such targets. Accordingly, the M26, M30 and M31 products can also be shot down, and the likelihood of a breakthrough to the target is reduced to a minimum.
European modification of the M270 - MARS 2. Photo by the German Ministry of Defense
Predictable future
Thus, the prospects for the current situation around the American-made MLRS in Ukraine are generally clear. Foreign countries will give the Kyiv regime a certain number of combat vehicles of various types and a supply of missiles for them. Ukraine will try to use them, but will not achieve anything - and soon the received products will simply run out, and a new supply will be needed.
The types of weapons planned for transfer pose a certain danger to the Russian and Republican troops, as well as to the population in the controlled territories. However, it can be eliminated in various ways with the help of available and utilized funds. In fact, the American MLRS will only affect the workload and intensity of the work of our crews and specialists.
It should be noted that the Russian army will receive some benefits from American supplies. Thus, our military will have the opportunity to meet with real MLRS from the United States and work out in practice the issues of countering them. In addition, missiles and even combat vehicles can become our trophies - and this will also be of great benefit.
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