Faster, higher, stronger. Himars against Putin's army

The intrigue around the supplies of Ukraine of American rocket lapsing systems was resolved: US President Joe Biden announced that Kyiv will receive Himars volley missile systems with a firing range of up to 80 kilometers.

The doubts that Ukraine will receive Himars systems (and, possibly, its caterpillar version of MLRS) arose after Bidden excluded the transfer of "missile systems that could achieve goals in Russia." This statement sounded instead of the expected official confirmation of supplies, about which the American media wrote about a week before. Experts, however, immediately suggested that Biden’s words mean only one thing: together with the American missile systems, Ukraine will not be transferred to modern ATACMS missiles with a firing range of up to 300 kilometers, but less long -range ammunition. However, their maximum range is noticeably higher than that of the American howitzers M777, which are already used in the Donbass by the Ukrainian army. It is about 70 kilometers - for example, it will allow Ukraine to strike the island of the snake, where Russia, according to the Ukrainian command, places missile systems for strikes in the Odessa region.

The fact that Seba is represented by M142 Himars and M270 MLRS missile systems, what types of ammunition they can be equipped, whether these systems can radically change the alignment of forces in the Russian-Ukrainian war and why the range of shells used is far from their only advantage over Russian analogues, Radio Liberty talked with an independent military expert, former employees of the Italian army Thomas the Secretary .

"The most important thing is the type of ammunition"

- On May 29, you wrote on Twitter that you are annoyed by inaccuracies and errors that constantly pop up in the media when describing American missile systems of salvo fire. What did you mean?

- First of all, that many do not understand: the range of these systems depends on what ammunition is used with them. The ammunition of the GMRLS family has a firing range of more than 70 kilometers (in fact, even more, but the real maximum is classified) and are used in containers containing 6 such missiles. ATACMS tactical missiles can fly at a distance of 300 kilometers, each container contains one such missile. ATACMS Americans are not going to supply Ukraine. Some Russian media write that in fact, the United States will give Ukraine the old M270A0 launchers with uncontrollable M26 missiles and that such a replenishment of the Ukrainian arsenal will fundamentally not change the alignment of forces. This would be true, but since 2007, the United States has disposed of almost all M26 missiles, in addition, they have a range of only 32 kilometers and cassette warheads, the use of which even the American military themselves secretly condemned.

Most likely, Ukraine will receive more modern launches of the M270A1 MLRS, if we are talking about the caterpillar version, or M142 - in the case of wheeled Himars. Both of them have a GPS module and shoot guided missiles. Before the Russian cities, controlled ammunition of the GMRLS family can get as successful as the Tornado now have. In this sense, the supply of American MLRS without ATACMS missiles will not change much, and Ukraine is now focused on protecting its territory in the Donbass and is unlikely to bear plans to equalize Kursk or Belgorod, as Russians do with Ukrainian settlements.

- What is the most critical for Ukraine in the supply of these systems? Their number or type of ammunition that will be set with them?

- The type of ammunition. The M777 howitzers have a shooting radius of 24 kilometers (or 29 kilometers with shells equipped with a bottom gas generator ). The French howitzers "Caesar" and German PZH 2000 with their longer trunks and more voluminous chargers can shoot the same shells as M777, at a distance of up to 30 kilometers (up to 40 kilometers with a bottom gas generator). Each of these 155 mm shells delivers about 11 kilograms of ordinary TNT to the target. Now compare: the M142 and M270A1 installations are able to deliver shells to a distance of more than 70 kilometers, and each shell carries more than 23 PBXN-109 explosive kilograms, while having a probable deviation of less than 7 meters. Briefly: Ukraine will be able to hit goals at a greater distance, faster, with greater accuracy and with a greater power of the explosion of each individual projectile.

Comparison of the range of shells released from the howitzers M777 (left), and M31A1 missiles issued from M142 or M270A1 missile systems, on the example of the front line in the Kherson region

"A shot from a giant shotgun"

- What ammunition can be delivered to Ukraine with Mlrs and Himars and what is the difference between them?

- There are only three types of GMLRS family missiles of those that can most likely be transferred to the Ukrainian army: M30A1, M31, M31A1. They are practically identical, in addition to the fact that missiles with A1 index are improved versions. The key difference between the M30A1 missiles is that they have a warhead, filled with more than 160 thousand tungsten balls. The warhead of such a rocket breaks over the target, freeing balls, which at this moment fly at a piercing speed of 3 makha (3600 km/h). Trucks, warehouses, people in the area of defeat of such a warhead are actually destroyed by a shot from a giant shotgun. The M31 and M31A have a unitary fragmentation-fluent combat unit, which inflicts destruction or affects living goals with a shock action. Such warheads are used against purposes such as buildings, tanks, bridges, train and so on. The M30 are equipped with a cassette ammunition of the M101, but the United States withdraw them out of circulation, replacing them with fragmentation and fluent warheads. There are also the most modern versions of the M30A2 and M31A2, these are the only missiles of the GMLRS family that are now being produced, but the United States will not supply Ukraine with its latest ammunition.

-If you still talk about the number of attitudes-how many of them do Ukraine need to turn the course of the war?

- at least 48 M142 or M270A1 installations, which could move along the front line. Part is needed in the Kherson direction, part in Kharkov, others could go to Donbass and Zaporozhye. Ideally, 6 batteries for 8 installations in each, plus another 8 installations for strengthening in the Donbass and another 8 for the reserve and training.

American MLRS Himars set by Romania

- Does the United States have enough ammunition for so many installations?

- January 1, 2021, the US Army reported that it has 50,000 missiles of the GMLRS family with the expected annual production of more than 9,000 missiles. Ukraine may need 10–20% of the available reserves. If Lockheed can increase production, then new ammunition will be able to arrive in Ukraine at the same speed as it will use the old ones. The US military-industrial complex is able to massively supply almost any products, this is what no other country in the world is capable of.

- How long and difficult will the training of Ukrainian troops be treated with MLRS and Himars?

- Most of the time, this is not this, but maintenance - 1-2 weeks. As for the use of launchers: 10 minutes need to learn how to charge them, 1 hour - to learn how to shoot. Learn to drive a caterpillar transport-generating machine-1 day. 99% of the work in Himars and MLRS is performed by an on -board crane and an electronic fire control system. It will be more difficult to develop and apply the correct doctrine of the use of these systems. Both of them need very accurate coordinates of the goal. Therefore, gunners, adjustments, drone operators and reconnaissance groups should quickly provide accurate coordinates to the crews of installations. This is easy if you find a Russian command post or warehouse that will not run away anywhere. This is difficult if you noticed a detachment of infantry, or a moving Russian column, or a train. In this case, you need to calculate the distance that the moving object will make until the moment the rocket strikes on it, calculate the exact coordinates in which the object is during the blow, send them to the combat calculation of the rocket installation, which, in turn, should immediately strike. The American military is well trained in this science, but Ukrainian will have to study quickly and intensively.

Container with rockets for MLRS HIMARS

"One shot is one affected target"

- What is the main advantage of the M142 Himars and M270 MLRS in front of the missile systems of the volley fire that Russia uses?

- accuracy and speed. The Russians will need 16 Smerch or 12 hurricanes missiles to cover a large area with cassette ammunition, hoping that they will amaze the set target. The GMLRS family rocket works as follows: one shot is one affected target, after which 5 more (in the case of Himars) or 11 missiles (in the case of MLRS) remain in the container to hit another 5 or 11 targets. The combat calculation of the "tornado" after the shot to reload it and take a new position, you need an hour. Installation M270A1, equipped with two containers with 6 missiles in each, can be reloaded 6-10 times during the same hour. Six multiply by 12 = 72 missiles, that is, in the presence of accurate coordinates - 72 affected targets for the time as the "tornado" inflicts 1-2 inaccurate strikes with uncontrolled missiles.

- Toutful neat blows from a military point of view are better than carpet artillery shelling with cassette ammunition?

- Yes. In addition, Russian troops with the advent of American RSOs will not be able to shoot for a long time. Imagine: “Tornado”, “Hurricane” or “Grad” makes a salvo, after which one of the 270a1 or Himars struck by the United States of the US -delivered US , after that, shall make a return accurate blow just 120 seconds after the Russian volley. The combination of the speed of American counter-battery radars, the computer control system, the GMLRS missile speed of the GMLRS missiles and their accuracy due to GPS navigation will lead to the fact that Russian artillery in Ukraine will be completely destroyed within a week or two.

"Grad" of the army of the self -proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic", April 11, 2022

- How important are air defense systems in order to protect American MLRS from air strikes?

- The main risk for them is drones. While the M270A1 or M142 move, the Russians cannot destroy them from the air. When they stop to strike, it takes up to 1 minute, so that the enemy artillery also does not have time to hit them. The only moment when possible is in the process of reloading, refueling or stopping to the crew. The only way to detect installation at this moment is to observe from a drone. If the Russian drone finds the reloading and storage of containers with missiles, he will wait until several more installations drive up to this place, then it can transfer coordinates and Russian troops will be able to hit the installations with a winged rocket. Rebooting Mlrs and Himars takes 3-5 minutes. If even the Russian winged missile does not hit the installation itself, it will destroy the ammunition containers stored in this place. To avoid this, the Ukrainian army needs to close the sky from drones over such places. Only modern Western air defense systems, such as the British Sky Sabre, Norwegian Nasams 2 or Nasams 3, Italian SPADA 2000+ or German IRIS-T SLM, can provide 100%protection.

"The priority goal is enemy artillery"

- If you were a commander, what goals would you consider priority in order to hit them with expensive American RSO systems? Enemy command posts? Bridges, supply lines? Artillery batteries?

- The priority should be counter -battery fire. Russian artillery causes the greatest damage to the Ukrainian troops and civilians. Disabled this artillery will save hundreds, if not thousands of Ukrainian lives. In second place I would put supplies. You can be unable to destroy the entire Russian artillery, but if you leave it without fuel, the enemy will not be able to bring new shells for "grades", "tornadoes" and "hurricanes" to positions. The destruction of stationary supplies is much more practical than an attempt to hit moving columns with fuel. Thirdly, the purpose of the Russian troops may be the goal. If your intelligence said that in such a place the infantry is going to attack, hit it with M30A1 missiles, and you will destroy 95% of the personnel on an area of 300x300 meters. In fourth place among the priorities are command posts. There is no command post - there is no control over the units, there is no coordination between infantry and artillery. In addition, when the commanders die, the entire unit dies sharply a combat mood. To this I would add that the air defense systems and enemy airbase systems can be a good goal for Mlrs and Himars. One M30A1 missile, for example, is able to destroy up to 10 helicopters.

The consequences of Russian missile attacks on Bakhmut, Donetsk region of Ukraine, May 24, 2022

- We know that the United States is trying at all costs to avoid Ukrainian strikes on a deep Russian rear. But what about the Russian troops located in dense urban development? Can the United States accompany the supply of MLRS and HIMARS The condition for not impacts from them in cities?

- Bohgolovka missiles M31/M31A1 was specially designed for shocks on urban areas. Enter the exact coordinates of the building - and it will be destroyed, while the windows will only fly out in neighboring houses. M30A1 makes sense only when using manpower or light transport in open areas. If you are behind a concrete wall, tungsten balls will not inflict damage to you.

- What are the examples of using M270A1 or M142 in the wars of the past come to your mind? Was they used against the armies whose capabilities were comparable to the Russian armed forces?

- During the war in the 1992 Persian Gulf of Persian, the United States launched over 6,000 M26 missiles and dozens of cassette M39 on the enemy from the M270 installations. It was the same "steel rain" that terrified Iraqi troops. The United States also used these MLRS during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, but much more prudent, and the Iraqi military had already learned the lesson and knew that it was worth gathering a significant amount of manpower in one place - it would be immediately covered with M26 missiles. The advanced M270A1 and Himars have been widely used from the moment of their appearance to combat Iraqi rebels and Taliban, but almost all the blows were already struck by controlled M31 or M31A missiles. In total, the US Army and Great Britain then spent more than 4,000 such missiles in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 1000 missiles of the GMRLS family were released on the fighters of the Islamic State. As for the comparison of the forces of the then opponents of the United States with the Russian army ... No, they cannot be compared. The Iraqi army in 1991 was weak and was already subjected to massive air bombing. Subsequent opponents of the US Armed Forces were even weaker. The war in Ukraine is essentially the first test for modern American MLRS in the fight against a comparable rival force. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the M270 was originally developed during the Cold War precisely in order to withstand the Soviet “hurricanes” and “tornado”. And if the “hurricanes” and “tornadoes” since their admission to the troops in the 70s and 80s have never been modernized, then the United States has radically updated its rocket laptops in 2005 and since then modernized them several times, like the rockets themselves. So I have no doubt that on the battlefield, American systems will easily surpass Soviet in firepower and speed.

"Steel Rain": British reactive systems of salvo fire during the Gulf of Persian:

"Umbrella" for Himars as a gift from Germany?

On Wednesday, the supply of four missile systems on the basis of the M270 MRLS was also announced by Ukraine by the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Sholts . We are talking about the European modification called Mars 2. Mars 2 has a modernized management system , which excludes the use of cassette ammunition, the EU countries, unlike the United States, signed and ratified the corresponding international convention. The system uses the same controlled ammunition as its American "sister". In addition, Germany will send Ukraine a modern IRIS-T SLM air defense system, which is not yet in service with the Bundeswehr himself and which, as Tomas Timer noted above, is needed to protect the RSOs from drones. According to Scholts, however, Iris-T is able to protect not only from drones, but also from an airstrike "whole city". IRIS-T SLM have a range of up to 40 km and can hit targets at an altitude of up to 20 km, but the beginning of their use in Ukraine is expected only in the fall-primarily due to quite long, unlike missile systems of salvo fire, the life of Ukrainian military work with this air defense system.