Thanks for subscribing!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized stream while on the go. download the app
Ukraine’s military prowess using US-supplied high-mobility artillery missile systems remains unparalleled.
Long-range, high-precision missile launchers, also known as HIMARS, have proven monumental in Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. With a range of up to 50 miles, Ukraine used the missiles to effectively hit Russian positions and clear out before the enemy could counterattack.
Russia has failed to destroy a single HIMARS launcher since Ukraine first began using them in June, a senior Defense Department official told Politico.
No weapon system has had as much of an impact on the fighting in Ukraine as HIMARS — especially given Russia’s apparent inability to level the playing field.
A $1.1 billion US security assistance package announced in September more than doubled the number of HIMARS on the Ukrainian battlefield, adding an additional 18 systems, as well as the associated munitions.
Moscow’s failure to put a dent in Ukraine’s supply of HIMARS is a potential source of frustration among Russians, but a ground warfare expert told Insider last month that Russia’s failure to do so is likely the result of military incompetence and outdated infrastructure. .
A military expert told Insider in July that HIMARS are a “perfect” weapon for Ukraine because they take advantage of Russia’s poor war planning. William Alberque, director of strategy, technology and arms control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, called the weapons “exactly the right system at the right time.”
Despite the strength of HIMARS, Ukraine still needs more artillery for the fight ahead, the same defense official told Politico. Ukraine fires between 4,000 and 7,000 artillery rounds each day compared to Russia’s 20,000, the agency said.
Ukraine is struggling to reclaim territory in Kharkiv and the Kherson region, but with winter approaching, updated infrastructure will be required. The Pentagon announced Friday that it will pay the Czech Republic to upgrade 45 Soviet-era T-72 tanks.
The updates are part of an additional $400 million in military aid announced this week by the Biden administration, which also includes missiles for HAWK air defense systems in Kyiv, 250 armored vehicles and 1,100 Phoenix Ghost drones.
The U.S. has now committed more than $18.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office, according to a defense press release.
