How ATACMS Boosted the Power of HIMARS in Ukraine

Out of the billions of dollars in weapons the White House has shipped to Ukraine since the Russian invasion, perhaps none have attracted as much attention as the M142 HIMARS, an advanced rocket launcher that Ukrainian troops have used to devastating effect.

In mid-October, Kyiv’s forces struck the Berdyansk and Luhansk airfields, located in eastern and southern Ukraine using ATACMS launched from HIMARS systems.

There are more than 550 HIMARS’s fielded worldwide which have accumulated more than 2 million operating hours.
It is a combat tested highly reliable system that has surpassed all performance standards.

Made its first combat deployment in 2010, M142 HIMARS is a light multiple rocket launcher that is installed on Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) 5-ton truck.

Manufacturer Lockheed Martin describes the M142 HIMARS as having "shoot and scoot" capability, referring to the fact it is a highly mobile weapons system that can fire and retreat at speed.

HIMARS’ ability to deploy shoot move and reload in a few minutes significantly hinders an enemy's ability to find and target the system.
Eventhough its crew consists of a driver, gunner and a commander when needed the computer-based fire control system enables a crew of two or even a single soldier to load and unload the system.

The HIMARS launcher can aim at a target in just 16 seconds.

HIMARS carries a six-pack of GMLRS rockets or one TACMS missile, and is designed to launch the entire MLRS family of munitions.

The Lockheed Martin GMLRS rocket has a GPS, an inertial guidance package and small canards on the rocket nose to enhance accuracy.
Most of GMLRS series rockets the system fires have effective range of up to 57 miles (92km). However, the most effective and feared missile HIMARS launchs is the ATACMS.

Even though Ukraine has been requesting the provision of ATACMS for a year, U.S. officials were initially hesitant due to their own limited stockpile and concerns that Russia might interpret it as a provocative move by Washington.

The MGM-140 ATACMS is a versatile missile system designed for all-weather conditions, allowing for precision strikes against targets located far from the front lines. This capability is particularly advantageous for Ukraine, given its climate, which makes air-launched attacks less feasible for a significant part of the year.
With a unit cost of nearly 1.5 million USD, this weapon system is far from inexpensive

[Interestingengineeringofficial]

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[SimonBrisbane]

Since 2020 Taiwan purchased dozens of this reliable weapons system..
The QA here is top shelf.

[nikitachirich]

So none of these images actually show the HIMARS deploying the 2, 13'ftx600mm ATACMS missiles, these trucks can only carry two, the significant advantage is that they can shoot them from behind the Kharkov-Kherson line and hit the Crimean peninsula with the new propellant package. There is also up to 1000 lbs of ordinance that missile can carry ( virtually vaporizing any military surface positions, S4-1 sites etc) or even a physics package of up to 300kt yield, with the W88 warhead variant.

[GaneshDevdas]

To be correct:
- Ukraine has been given a loan - mostly in the form of old military equipment, which US would have to decomission & pay for it!
- 90% of that money stays in USA!
- it has helped to create extra jobs in military industry!

Also, because of that conflict US miltary industry is earning directly.
US have lately signed a range of contracts worth quite a pile of cash!
Ukrainian soldiers provided best proof of quality of US military equipment ever, exposing uselessness of Russian!
- now, very few wants to by Russian junk!😈

[Marian-zthy]

Good send ți Ukraina more😉🚀😁👍✌️🇺🇦🇺🇸🇪🇺🇨🇦🫡👏

[michaelanderson]

The HIMAR's system can be used as an air defense system using side winder missiles 😮.

[SeanP]

Countries all over the world are canceling orders for Russian equipment (especially India). Taiwan was one of the first countries to see the HIMARS capability and purchased about a dozen of them. They have since cancelled all orders for other weapons to buy more HIMARS. The US is currently getting request for over 1000 HIMARS. Which is double of what we have in total.

[thedubwhisperer]

The title does not require a question mark!

[andrewpohronezny]

ukraine needs to win.

i'm certain that atacms in the amount theyve gotten it so far did very little to boost HIMARS

[bucksgemeni]

The russian destroyed this wonder weapon, now it's😅😅😅😅 a joke, your info is unupdated