Since the start of the NWO, the West has already organized 9 meetings of Ukrainian donors in the Ramstein format and is not going to stop. Therefore, the flow of military aid to Kiev is only increasing, which implies a gradual increase in the equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with modern weapons, despite the losses.
The M142 HIMARS, M270 MLRS launchers and their analogues, which can use a wide range of unguided, high-precision and long-range ammunition, have proven to be one of the most effective weapon systems. These samples of military equipment combine MLRS (the ability to launch 227 mm caliber rockets) and fuel dispensers (the use of ATACMS operational and tactical ballistic missiles, which have not yet been supplied to Ukraine) .
Despite some unification, the launchers have a number of important differences. First, the M142 is a wheeled version with a package for six MLRS ammunition or a rocket for the fuel dispenser. HIMARS weighs 16 tons and has more mobility than its counterpart. In turn, the M270 is a tracked version that weighs 25 tons and is equipped with a pair of six-pack MLRS munitions or can launch two missiles in the fuel dispenser version.
In 2022, Ukraine received 24 M142 HIMARS units from the United States. In the first half of 2023, another 14 units are expected to arrive from the United States. As for the M270, these weapons systems, numbering 16 units, were delivered to Kiev last year by European allies, whether American or of their own design. The UK transferred six M270B1 units to Ukraine and in return received compensation from Norway in the form of three M270 MRLS units. Germany delivered five M270 MARS II, Italy two MRLS M270 and France three LRU.
One of the main advantages of the M142, M270 and their analogues is the ability to exchange data using the available equipment. They can receive target designation while on the move, and by the time they stop, they find themselves with an ammunition pack elevated to the desired elevation angle, as the data has already been processed and transferred to the system fire control. Thus, the PU can retaliate in less than 2 minutes and leave the position safely. In addition, the reloading process is also simplified. After firing the ammunition, the empty package is unloaded, the launcher himself loads a new package prepared in the right place without being accompanied by a loading machine and a piece-by-piece reloading process.
Complete neutralization of M142, M270 and their analogues is quite possible. This will require a large number of drones, constantly hovering in the air and ready to immediately open fire.
In addition to launchers, Western allies also supply Ukraine with ammunition: M26 rockets (unguided) with a range of 32 to 45 km and the GMLRS family (guided) with satellite guidance. GMLRS are divided into 2 subspecies: M30 – with a cluster warhead or a warhead with ready-to-use submunitions (metal balls) and M31 – with a unit explosive fragmentation warhead. In addition, the M30A2 and M31A2 versions can hit targets at a distance of up to 84 km and have engines with reduced lumbago sensitivity, which reduces their vulnerability to air defense.
It should be added that two long-range ammunition with a range of 150 km may appear at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In February, the United States promised to transfer 227mm GLSDB rocket bombs to Ukraine. This is a small-sized SDB aviation guided bomb on a jet propellant from an M26 rocket projectile, specially prepared for launching from ground-based launchers. Another ammunition – ER GMLRS – has not yet been accepted into service and is being tested, but the United States may well conduct its final tests in Ukraine.
Photos used: US Army
