U.S.-Made HIMARS Rockets Are Raining Down On Russia’s Army
Video footage depicting a strike on the Russian command post has been circulated on social media, showing a massive explosion and a crater at the strike site.
For nearly three years, the United States and its NATO allies have provided Kyiv with scores of military equipment to aid the country’s defensive efforts against Moscow. From anti-tank weaponry and main battle tanks to munitions and even fighter jets, Ukrainian forces have some of the most advanced arms in existence in its stockpiles.
While all of the delivered weapons are considered to be capable in thwarting Russian advances, the American-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has particularly proven to be a key asset for Kyiv. Earlier this month, Ukrainian Defense Forces reportedly deployed HIMARS rockets in a strike targeting Russia’s 35th Brigade. Video footage depicting a strike on the Russian command post has been circulated on social media, showing a massive explosion and a crater at the strike site. While Ukraine has not confirmed that HIMARS was behind the strike, analysts believe this formidable light multiple rocket launcher is responsible.
What We Know About the Recent Strike
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), pro-Ukrainian user Alf Really shared the video, noting that “Drone footage of the recent Ukrainian strike with guided aerial bomb targeting what were said to be the headquarters of the Russian 35th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (в/ч 41659) from the 41st Combined Arms Army (Central Military District) in the town of Selydove, Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine.
“It was rumored that multiple Russian officers from the brigade’s leadership were killed in the strike, although no proof of that appeared thus far (to my knowledge).”
An Overview of HIMARS
HIMARS, first developed for the U.S. in the late 1990’s, has remained an affordable and technologically sophisticated artillery solution for the army. The rocket system was created as a private venture by Lockheed Martin following the Gulf War. The U.S. Army’s arsenal of M270 rocket launchers proved too costly and too heavy for rapid deployment. HIMARS was developed to fulfill these gaps, and commissioned in the early 2000s. Three operators—driver, gunner and section chief—control the weapon, which can carry six missiles capable of reaching targets located up to 43 miles away.
When Ukrainian forces first received HIMARS back in 2022, Kyiv’s military was able to reach further beyond Russian lines and target strategic logistical hubs that enabled Moscow’s invasion. Then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin noted that HIMARS had “changed the dynamics” of the war, adding that Ukraine’s military was using the rocket launchers the “right way” by targeting Russian logistical chains in the rear and preparing the battlefield for additional barrages by Kyiv’s maneuver units.
In addition to HIMARS, Kyiv has also relied on the older M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. While the M270 is slower than its successor, it is also better geared for rough ground and therefore continues to be an asset for Kyiv.
As the war enters its fourth year, Western-delivered weapons like HIMARS will undoubtedly continue to aid Kyiv’s defensive objectives. Ukraine’s ultimate ability to completely thwart Russian advances, however, remains up in the air.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Shutterstock.