HIMARS: Great system… but it won't be enough.

(To Tiziano Ciocchetti)
14/07/22

In recent days, the “exceptional” performance of the M-142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) field system, capable, according to some, of changing the balance on the ground, has been persistently leaking.

As already described in previous articles, the HIMARS is the result of a Lockheed Martin program, launched in 1996. The project envisaged the creation of a highly projectable rotated multiple artillery rocket launcher, which was at the same time endowed with fast firing times. recharging and putting in battery, moreover it had to be able to be transported by the C-130s Hercules.

Currently the ammunition used should be the GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) GPS-guided rockets, with a maximum range of 70 km. The hypothesis of sending ATACMS BLOCK IA missiles, with a maximum range of 300 km, was also raised.

As versatile as it may be, the numbers on the pitch as well as the tactical situation on the ground (Donbass) will hardly allow for a reversal of the situation. Opposite, the Ukrainians have the best artillery in the world, single and multi-tube.

While the West, in the last twenty years, has been thinking about asymmetrical wars, Russia continued to invest in artillery systems, especially self-propelled ones. The HIMARS are confronted with hundreds of batteries of Uragan 220 mm, of Smerch from 300 mm, e Tornado by 300 mm.

Unlike the first two months of clashes, the Russians began to massively use towed and self-propelled artillery (the new 2S35 with 152/52 mm piece were also deployed), especially in counter-battery shooting, thanks also to the '' use of radar to identify fire sources and drones.

Photo: US Marine Corps