M270 MLRS in Ukraine. Another dubious help
US Army M270
After several months of waiting and requests, the Ukrainian army began to receive M270 MLRS multiple rocket launchers. American-made equipment will come from several countries, in limited quantities and with an incomplete range of ammunition. Nevertheless, the Kyiv regime again places high hopes on the imported novelty. And again, it is obvious that they will not be justified, and the resulting technique will face an unenviable fate.
Forgeries and disputes
Since the end of February, Kyiv has been demanding that it be provided with modern rocket artillery, such as the M270 or M142 MLRS. However, for a couple of months, foreign partners actually ignored this. The situation began to change only at the end of April, when work began on a new Lend-Lease program in the United States.
Against the backdrop of these events, curious news. At the end of April, the Ukrainian media reported that the first M270 installation had already arrived in Ukraine and even got to the front. However, no confirmation followed, and then it became clear that this information was not true. In fact, it was another lie from propagandists to "raise the spirit."
Ammunition loading
While the Kyiv regime was wishful thinking, the United States and allies were deciding whether it could transfer modern MLRS. In mid-May, it became known that Washington did not want to share such equipment. The American leadership feared that Ukraine would use it to strike Russian territory, and this would lead to undesirable consequences and risks for the United States.
Real measures
However, by the end of the month the situation had changed. Washington took a promise from Kyiv not to shoot at Russian territory, and this opened the possibility for the transfer of MLRS. The US decided to send newer M142 HIMARS to Ukraine, while NATO allies were to provide M270 MLRS products.
On June 1, it became known from the German media that the Bundeswehr would provide four MARS II systems as assistance - the German version of the M270 modernization with some changes and limitations. The delivery of military vehicles and missiles was planned before the end of the month. At the same time, it was not specified what ammunition and in what quantity would be shipped.
At the same time, it was reported that Great Britain turned to the United States with a request to re-export its M270B1 MLRS to Ukraine. The number of vehicles transferred was not reported, but it was noted that it is comparable with assistance from other countries. It soon became known that we were talking about only three or four MLRS with an unspecified stock of missiles.
Empty launcher
In the last days of June, Norway decided to join the M270 suppliers for Ukraine. She allocated three MLRS from storage for these purposes. At the same time, it was not a direct delivery that was offered, but assistance under a more complex scheme. Three Norwegian installations should go to the UK, which will later repair them, modernize them and keep them. At the same time, the British side will transfer to Ukraine three M270B1 from its units.
First batch
On July 15, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, in an interview for the foreign press, said that the first M270 vehicles had already arrived in the country. These are three installations from the UK. The arrival of the next batches of equipment is also expected. Terms of receipt of new machines are not reported. Plans for the supply of ammunition are also not specified.
It should be noted that the delivery of the British M270 has not yet been confirmed. It is known about it only from the words of the Ukrainian minister, and photo or video materials that can become evidence have not yet been published. In addition, there are no reports of the appearance of MLRS in the war zone. Accordingly, the allied forces have not yet had the opportunity to knock out or take such a sample as a trophy.
New imported equipment has not yet participated in the battles, but its use can begin at any moment. At the same time, it should be expected that these episodes will not receive much coverage from the Ukrainian side. At the moment, there is a real campaign to advertise the modern HIMARS MLRS, and in such a situation, the older M270 cannot count on special attention.
MLRS/GMLRS rocket launch
Technical potential
MLRS M270 MLRS is a fairly old model. The first modification of this system entered service with the US Army back in 1983. However, in the future, the combat vehicle underwent various upgrades, and new rockets and missiles were also created. All this ensured the growth of tactical and technical characteristics and compliance with changing requirements.
The M270 is a tracked combat vehicle with an armored cab with high off-road mobility. The chassis carries a launcher for rockets with the possibility of guidance in two planes. The installation accommodates two unified transport and launch containers with ammunition guides. The TPK can accommodate six 227-mm salvo rockets or one operational-tactical ATACMS. The replacement of the container is carried out using its own lifting device on the launcher.
Depending on the modification, MLRS receive different fire control systems, but their composition and functions are the same. They include a digital computer that calculates the trajectories of various ammunition, a satellite navigation system, tactical information exchange tools, etc. However, there are some differences. Thus, the American M270A1 / A2 is capable of using all existing ammunition, and the German MARS II at the LMS level is not compatible with missiles carrying cluster warheads.
The main ammunition for the M270 is the GMLRS family of rockets. Products M30 and M31 of various modifications fly to a distance of 70-90 km and carry warheads of various types - cartridges with fragmentation or cumulative fragmentation submunitions, or single-block high-explosive fragmentation charges. The missiles are equipped with inertial and satellite navigation to improve the accuracy of hits.
Product launch ATACMS
Also, MLRS is a launcher for operational-tactical missiles of the ATACMS family. There were six versions of this weapons with different features and characteristics. The most advanced missiles of the family have a firing range of up to 300 km and use inertial and satellite navigation. Various warheads were used, from high-explosive monoblocks weighing 227 kg to 275-950 fragmentation submunitions.
MLRS M270 MLRS has a number of important features and advantages. So, the caterpillar chassis gives high cross-country ability on different landscapes. The launcher and SLA ensure the use of a wide range of ammunition. Due to this, one machine can solve combat missions typical for rocket artillery and for OTRK. As a result, there is no need to develop two separate complexes. It should be noted that the M270, unlike the newer M142 MLRS, carries two TPKs and, accordingly, has twice as much ammunition ready for launch.
New threat
In the near future, at least three M270B1s may appear in the combat zone and carry out the first combat launches under the control of Ukrainian crews. In the future, another 7-8 launchers are expected to appear. Deliveries of various types of ammunition also begin. So far, we are talking only about GMLRS guided missiles, but the Kyiv regime may also receive ATACMS missiles.
Predicting the results of the appearance of the MLRS MLRS is quite simple. Ukraine has already received several similar HIMARS and uses them at the front. It can be assumed that the use of the M270 will not be fundamentally different, and the two systems will show generally similar results, and the differences in design will not have a noticeable effect.
German MLRS MARS II
In recent weeks, practice has clearly demonstrated that the GMLRS family of missiles do indeed have high range and accuracy characteristics - and therefore pose a danger. However, flying along a ballistic trajectory with minimal deviations makes them not the most difficult target for military air defense. As is the case with other MLRS, most of the shells are knocked down in flight and do not reach their targets.
However, there is another problem. Ukrainian formations use their MLRS against settlements and their inhabitants. During salvo firing at such a “target”, any missile that breaks through causes serious damage and takes lives. In this cannibalistic way, the Kyiv regime is trying to compensate for the limited combat capabilities of a few foreign weapons.
However, this is followed by retribution. The self-propelled chassis increases the mobility and survivability of the MLRS, but does not exclude its detection and subsequent destruction. Our troops have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to find and destroy enemy combat vehicles. From the point of view of detection and destruction, the M270 does not fundamentally differ from other MLRS of the Ukrainian army - and has the same prospects.
Questionable benefit
Thus, once again you can observe the already familiar scenario with a predictable continuation. The Kyiv regime begged for modern weapons and even tried to wishful thinking. However, it was possible to obtain new equipment only after a few months, in limited quantities and with incomplete capabilities.
Obviously, now the Ukrainian formations will try to use their new M270 MLRS - as before, against cities and civilians. Obviously, this will not change the situation at the front in any way and will not allow any success to be achieved. But then the newly received equipment will be discovered and knocked out, taken as a trophy, or even bought out. And for the sake of all this, the United States, Great Britain and Germany are sacrificing the materiel of their own armies.
Information