In his weekly broadcast on August 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of the effectiveness of a new weapon in the Ukrainian conflict.
“The word ‘HIMARS’ has become almost synonymous with the word ‘justice’ for our country, and the Ukrainian defence forces will do everything to ensure that the occupiers experience more and more painful losses every week thanks to these very effective systems,” Mr Zelensky said.
On August 1, Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov tweeted that four more M-142 HIMARS from the United States had arrived in the country bringing the total to 20.
4 additional HIMARS have arrived in🇺🇦. I’m grateful to @POTUS@SecDef Lloyd Austin III and 🇺🇸people for strengthening of #UAarmy
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) August 1, 2022
We have proven to be smart operators of this weapon. The sound of the #HIMARS volley has become a top hit 🎶 of this summer at the front lines!
🇺🇦ðŸ¤ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ pic.twitter.com/iOBoxfjV7e
The first of four HIMARs to arrive in Ukraine went into service on June 25.
HIMARS (high mobility artillery rocket systems) are a US combat-proven, all-weather, night and day, precision-attack missile system. The launchers are C-130 Hercules air transportable, fitted on a six-wheel, five-tonne military truck.
The launcher can fire up to six guided (GMLRS) missiles with a range of up to 300km, using GPS and satellite targeting with a precision strike of between 3m and 5m of target at maximum range. Being mobile, the launch systems can stop, fire and quickly move away in a way analysts describe as “highly survivable” where targeted responsive strikes can occur within minutes.
HIMARS have launched dozens of successful attacks on Russian munitions depots, command and control centres and other strategic assets. One strike hit a Russian train carrying munitions and soldiers to the fighting in Kherson in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported the deaths of 80 Russian soldiers with 200 wounded. Importantly, a UK Defence Ministry spokesman reported the railway line will “take months to repair.”
The Americans call it “degrade and disable.”
Another HIMARS attack took out the Antonivsky bridge over the Dnipro River, 14km from Kherson, forcing the Russian military to construct pontoon bridges in order to move heavy vehicles across the river.
The official Twitter account of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry tweeted a short film of HIMARS in use accompanied by heavy metal band, Metallica’s Enter Sandman. The clip is obvious propaganda but it’s hard not to like it.
Exit light. Enter HIMARS. Exit russians.
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 2, 2022
Every russian occupier in Ukraine lyrics of this song...🔥
And already sleeps with one eye open…
Music by @Metallicapic.twitter.com/KCDmumqPpW
The Russian Defence Ministry claims they have destroyed seven HIMARS. The danger the weapons system pose to the Russian military has led to orders to destroy them at source. In captured communications, the Russian military has conceded HIMARS fly “too low and too fast” for its missile defence systems.
Russia has precision guided missile systems, too, of course but they are not as mobile or lethal in targeting. Russia has an advantage in that it also possesses and uses long-range targeted missiles. The US and NATO are supplying only medium and short-range missile systems under the proviso that no strike can be made on Russian soil to prevent further escalation of the conflict. There has also been talk of the supply of NATO fighter jets to Ukraine with Ukraine Air Force pilots trained to fly them, but that plan seems to have gone nowhere.
The Ukrainian city of Kherson is a strategic port where the Dnipro River meets the Black Sea. It has been under Russian occupation since March. The Ukraine Army is engaged in a counter-offensive to take back the city that once was home to almost 300,000 Ukrainians. British military analysts believe Russian troops in Kherson are vulnerable to being encircled there, cut off from Russian resupply through Crimea and the Donbass Region.
Doubts remain as to the Ukraine army’s capability to launch an effective counter-attack. The Kherson theatre promises to be the most critical battle since the Russians invaded on February 24. Vladimir Putin’s long-term objectives will be defined by what happens in Kherson in the weeks and months to come.
The Ukrainians want and need more HIMARS. While President Zelensky was full of praise for the Biden administration in providing the missile systems and the munitions it has received in a $126bn military aid package, there is frustration within the government and military in Ukraine. What has been supplied is not enough. The truth is whatever is supplied may never be enough.
UK, French and German mobile missile systems have landed in Ukraine, too, with more coming. Defence Minister Reznikov has called for 50 HIMARS and on another occasion, in a moment of wishful thinking, beseeched the Americans for 100. There are reportedly only 542 of the Lockheed developed weapons systems in existence.
Earlier this week, the US Senate voted 95-1 to endorse the membership of Sweden and Finland into NATO. The one nay-sayer was prominent election truther, Josh Hawley (Republican – Missouri). Opening the NATO books offers the prospect of Swedish and Finnish advanced weapons systems being delivered to Ukraine’s growing military arsenal but that is months away.
Regardless of the country of origin, missile systems will require intensive training before they can be put into active military use.
As their effectiveness in Ukraine becomes clear, HIMARS have become the most sought after weapons system in the world with the Baltic nations placing them on their wish list. On July 16, Estonia received US State Department approval for the purchase of six HIMARS. The deal is yet to be approved by the US Congress. From Estonia, HIMARS could be targeted at St Petersburg and halfway to Moscow.
Having succeeded in its ambitions to take the Donbass, the Russians have held their positions while rearming and reinforcing their entry paths. Millions of Ukrainians are under the Russian boot now and if the reports of war crimes in Ukraine’s north are anything to go by, the scale of the atrocities is bound to shock the world as Putin continues on his path to annihilate Ukraine.
In May, the US State Department approved the Australian purchase of 20 HIMARS with 30 GMLRS missiles and associated kit worth $545m.
Meanwhile, if a Russian soldier catches a brief glimpse of the pointy end of a HIMARS-launched GMLRS headed his way, we can be certain that he’s in for a really bad day.
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