Identified flying object

ATACMS missiles are already in Ukraine?

As a result of the shelling of Russian airfields, judging by the statement of the Armed Forces, technology and helicopters were destroyed. There is information about the dead pilots. Russian bloggers have already argued that ATACMS missiles were used for attacks, the supply of which at the moment there is no official information.

Nine helicopters

The forces of special operations (MTR) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced a successful operation called Dragonfly on the shelling of airfields in Berdyansk and Lugansk. “The MTR received information about the use of airfields in the temporarily occupied by Berdyansk and Lugansk, as well as the stay of a significant number of aviation and special equipment and ammunition on them,” the STRO official channel said. - The specified information was verified and confirmed. The coordinates and necessary data are transferred to defeat goals to the defense forces. As a result of a fire blow on the night of October 16 to 17, the invaders suffered significant losses. ”

According to the MSC, nine helicopters of different modifications, special equipment, the launching of the air defense and the ammunition warehouse were destroyed in Berdyansk and Lugansk. The take -off strips of airfields are also damaged.

“The composition of ammunition in Berdyansk detonated until four in the morning. Detonation in Lugansk lasted until 11 in the morning, - they added to the MSC. - The losses in the enemy’s manpower make up dozens of dead and wounded. The bodies are still taken out from under the rubble. ”

The Russian army does not comment on this information.

Cassette missile

According to the Pro-Russian TG channel “Military Investigative”, the MGM-140B ATACMS BLOCK 1A (M39A1) was used to strike at the Berdyansk airfield. “This missile contains 275–300 Subboteenes of the M74 (already found at the site of the blow) and is able to hit targets at a range of up to 300 kilometers,” said TG channel. “The rocket is able to be launched from the M142 Himars, M270B and Mars II launchers already available in service with the APU.”

A little later, the same TG channel published photos allegedly taken at the site of the shelling of airfields. According to the authors of the message, the pictures are visible in the images of the M74 Subbotenstopas from the MGM-140 ATACMS missile, which remained after a missile strike around the airfield in Berdyansk.

“It can be argued about the use of Armed Forces of Armed Forces and their supply from the United States,” TG channel notes.

“Information appeared in the troops that several pilots were injured in Berdyansk,” a Russian officer, who asked not to nam his name, tells the New-European. - There are also those who died from the destroyed calculation of air defense and the protection of warehouses that Ukrainians “covered”. Helicopters are not all destroyed. But many are damaged. The damage is significant. ”

The long -awaited weapon

“The Armed Forces of Ukraine has been waiting for the ATACMS missiles since the first supplies in the summer of 2022 of the RSO M142 HIMARS and M270MLRS,” the new-Europe explains on the terms of anonymity Russian military expert. - Talk that such ammunition should be provided by the United States for many months. In mid -September, the American media wrote that Joe Biden gave good to this. But this does not mean that such a fact must be announced publicly. Sometimes that this or that type of weapons is already in Ukraine, we will learn only after it was applied. So, for example, it happened to the Harm anti -glazing missile, which became known only when after shelling it was possible to find the wreckage of ammunition. ” Our expert cannot confirm or refute the authenticity of the pictures given by pro-Russian TG channels. But it suggests that they may well be real.

The expert claims that ATACMS missiles have two types of warheads - concrete -launched for the destruction of bunkers and fortifications, and cassette, covering significant areas with their Subtiopas.

It is cassette missiles that are usually used for shelling such purposes as airfields. Such a target as a combat helicopter is easily damaged by small explosive devices that fly in the air.

It is the possibility of lesions of significant in terms of targets of the ballistic cassette missile that differs from a winged, similar to the famous Storm Shadow, which is used in individual buildings or objects.

Our interlocutor says that ballistic missiles, such as ATACMS, are a complex target for air defense, as they gain significant speed and perform antiplassy maneuvers in flight. Theoretically, the S-400 complex can bring them down, but Russia, apparently, is not enough for these air defense systems to protect all military facilities.

“Judging by the satellite images of two airfields before shelling, the helicopters are there rather boring enough,” continues the Russian military expert. - They could be destroyed by one or more cassette missiles. There is a version that

At the limit range, airfields, located approximately 100 kilometers from the front line, could reach the Soviet Point-U missile or the S-200 anti-aircraft complex converted to strike on the ground.

But they have completely different types of damaging elements and sub -devices. ”

If we are really talking about ATACMS, then obtaining this weapon can change a lot at the front. So, this rocket launched with the most advanced can reach the Crimean bridge. But usually Ukrainians try not to set up their installations of MLRS under attack and carry out shelling from the rear sections. However, even in this case, a zone of 250 kilometers from the combat contact line becomes very dangerous for aviation, personnel, equipment and warehouses of the Russian army located on Earth. In addition, you will have to even further divert the headquarters and units of communication. These missiles can be fired by the entire occupied territory and Crimea.

Our interlocutor also recalls that the media appeared in the media that after the start of ATACMS supplies, Germany could provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles.

“According to my information, ATACMS has already been used in military facilities near Dzhankoy,” Roman Svitan Colonel Roman Svitan tells the “new-Europe”, “then the blow was struck by cassette ammunition on the concentration of equipment. So today we are already talking at least about the second use of these missiles. The photographs published in Russian publics depict the M74 Subboteen to the M39 cassette rocket. The range of this ammunition is 160 kilometers. It carries 950 SatioPris. We are waiting for the supply of missiles M39A1 - carrying 275 Sabbotes, but flying 300 kilometers. ”

Roman Svitan believes that in the case of supply of ATACMS missiles flying 300 kilometers, the Russian side will have to practically stop using helicopters. After all, it is difficult to quickly cover considerable distances quickly with a relatively slow rotor.

“Warehouses and airfields will also be under the blow,” Roman Svitan ends the story, “the shoulder of the delivery of ammunition and equipment will grow significantly. This will complicate the already difficult situation at the Russian Army. ”

UPD:
Updated. Added comment by Roman Svitan.