A potential game changer

How the ATACMS differs from the other missiles in Ukraine’s arsenal

On October 17, 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had launched U.S.-provided Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for the first time. “Our agreements with President Biden are being implemented,” the Ukrainian president announced. “They’re being implemented very accurately — the ATACMS have proven themselves.” Hours earlier, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the U.S. government had secretly sent a small number of ATACMS missiles with a range of about 100 miles (160 kilometers). Washington has not officially acknowledged the shipment, and neither Zelensky nor the WSJ revealed what target Ukraine used the new weapons to strike. That morning, however, the Ukrainian military reported that it had struck an airfield in occupied Berdyansk, where Russia stores the attack helicopters that it has used to repel Kyiv’s offensive in southern Ukraine. Additionally, Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels have posted photos purportedly taken in Berdyansk that show fragments of ATACMS missiles, while a video has surfaced that appears to show multiple fires at the Berdyansk airfield. Meduza explains how the capabilities of ATACMS missiles exceed those of the other weapons in Ukraine’s arsenal and how they could affect the course of the war.

The ATACMS is a long-range tactical ballistic missile that can be launched from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Its range (150–300 kilometers, or 93–186 miles, depending on the modification) is several times greater than the other missiles at Ukraine’s disposal, such as the GMLRS and the M26 (which have a range of 90 kilometers, or 55 miles). The ATACMS also carries significantly more powerful warheads (450 kilograms, or 922 pounds) than the GMLRS (90 kilograms, or 200 pounds).

Ukraine’s military does have other long-range missiles, including Anglo-French Storm Shadow (or SCALP) missiles, whose range and warhead capacity (with the modifications of the ones provided to Ukraine) aren’t vastly different from those of the ATACMS. However, the ATACMS still has some substantial advantages:

• Unlike Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, the ATACMS can be equipped with cluster warheads, which are effective against large targets such as airfields or groups of troops and equipment.
• HIMARS and MRLS launchers, which are conventionally used to launch ATACMS missiles, are difficult targets for enemy troops due to their high mobility, short preparation time for firing, and ability to be quickly moved from their firing position. In contrast, the aircraft from which cruise missiles like Storm Shadow are fired are vulnerable both in the air and on airfields. Throughout the entire war so far, there has not been a single verified case of a HIMARS or MRLS being successfully targeted.
• Finally, ATACMS missile launches can be programmed and prepared in minutes. This allows them to hit even targets that may soon change locations, such as aircraft and helicopters on airfields or ships in harbors. The target coordinates for Storm Shadow strikes, on the other hand, have to be programmed on the ground before the carrier aircraft takes off, and the entire process, from planning a strike to hitting the target, can take hours. Moreover, the carrier’s departure from an airfield can be tracked by air defense systems, giving Russia advance warning. As a result, Ukraine only uses Storm Shadow missiles to fire on stationary objects, such as ammunition depots and ships in dry docks.
• In addition, ATACMS missiles are about three times faster than cruise missiles, which makes it even easier for them to hit mobile targets.

Explainer by Meduza

Translation by Sam Breazeale