According to a statement published by the United States Department of Defense on June 1, 2022, the United States announced the delivery to Ukraine of four M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), rocket/missile launcher systems. With this new artillery system, the Ukrainian army will be able to hit targets at a greater distance than a howitzer which has a firing range of around 30 km.
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The American-made M142 HIMARS is able to hit a land target at a range of up to 70 km using guided rockets. (Picture source US. Army)
In fact, the American-made M142 HIMARS is an artillery system in the category of MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) able to fire multiple, precision-guided rockets. Along with the HIMARS system, the U.S. Department of Defense is also including the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System to be used with HIMARS. Those rockets are capable of hitting a target more than 70 km away.
To ensure the most rapid delivery of HIMARS systems to Ukraine, Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy said, the U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) pre-positioned systems inside Europe in anticipation of the president's decision to approve their transfer to Ukraine.
In addition to the four HIMARS systems, this latest package of equipment for Ukraine will include five counter-artillery radar systems; two air-surveillance radars; 1,000 Javelins and 50 command launch units; 6,000 anti-armor weapons; 15,000 155-mm artillery rounds; four Mi-17 helicopters; 15 tactical vehicles; and additional spare parts and equipment.
Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian armed forces on February 24, 2022, the U.S. has provided $4.6 billion in military and security assistance to Ukraine. Recently, U.S. Congress approved, and the president signed, an additional $40 billion in support to Ukraine.
The American-made M142 HIMARS is one of the most modern rocket launcher systems in the world which is able to fire guided rockets and tactical missiles. The rocket/missile launcher station is mounted on 6x6 truck chassis. The rear of the truck can be fitted with six rockets or one MGM-140 ATACMS surface-to-surface long-range tactical missile. Using the missile, the HIMARS is able to reach a land target at a range of up to 300 km.
