Ukraine deploys U.S. HIMARS weapons against Russia.

Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian Base with HIMARS Missiles

Reports have emerged that Ukrainian forces launched a HIMARS strike targeting a Russian base over the weekend. A video released by the Twitter handle @GeoConfirmed shows the aftermath of the barrage, which appears to have completely destroyed a Russian officer post.

The HIMARS Strike

Russian officer Oleg Marzoev announced on Telegram that three U.S.-supplied HIMARS missiles struck the facility where the Vladikavkaz garrison of the 58th Army was positioned. A second video, captured by an officer roughly 20km from the strike, shows the extent of the damage. @Marzoev explained that “Two rockets that hit the building itself pierced the roof and exploded between the first and second floors, completely collapsing them in that part, folding concrete floors … At the same time, after the explosion, one of the missiles, by inertia, pierced another concrete slab into the basement, in the center of the room where three officers were at that moment, and the concrete floor of the basement itself, scattered, cut through the space with fragments of the hull, smashed walls.”

The HIMARS System

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a highly advanced tactical missile system. Developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, HIMARS made its initial public appearance in the early 1990s. The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed with a $23 million contract to construct four rocket system prototypes. HIMARS was ultimately selected in 2003 and continues to serve as a significant strategic capability to its operators.

Mounted on a five-ton truck, HIMARS can hold six rockets that can reach targets up to 50 miles away. Three crewmen operate the GPS-guided system. HIMARS features GMLRS rockets or one ATACM missile and can fire at roughly 94 km per hour.

The Impact of HIMARS on Ukraine’s War Efforts

Ukraine received its first shipment of HIMARS over the summer as part of a $2.6 billion military aid package from the U.S. Since then, HIMARS has remained a critical component of Ukraine’s war operations. The addition of HIMARS has elevated Ukraine’s war efforts, giving its troops the element of surprise over Russia and taking out various Russian artillery sites that limit the occupier’s counter-fire capabilities.

As the uptick in warfare continues, additional shipments of HIMARS will certainly aid Kyiv’s defensive efforts.

Author Bio:

Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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