What is the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)?

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What is the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)? Blog Image

Overview:

Russia's government recently published new footage claiming to show the targeting of two Ukrainian High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) shortly after the U.S. authorized a significant new chunk of military aid for Ukraine.

About High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)

  • It is a light, multiple rocket launcher.
  • It is manufactured by Lockheed MartinCorporation, a US-based security and aerospace company.
  • HIMARS is intended to engage and defeat artillery, air defence concentrations, trucks, light armour, and personnel carriers, as well as support troop and supply concentrations.
  • Features:
  • It is an air-transportable wheeled launchermountedon a 5-ton Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
  • It can carry either a launcher pod of six rockets or one MGM-140Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which have a range of 300 km (186 miles).
  • The HIMARS requires less than 20 seconds to be prepared for firing, and a full launcher load of six rockets can be fired within 45 seconds.
  • The system launches its weapons and moves away from the area at high speedbefore enemy forces locate the launch site.
  • The HIMARS is equipped with the Increased Crew Protection cabin, which is designed to protect the three-man operating crew against plume gases, rocket launch debris, and small arms.

Q1: What is Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)?

ATACMS is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets, and other missiles. It is manufactured by the US defense company Lockheed Martin. It is also designated M39 by the US Army, and its Department of Defence (DoD)designation is MGM-140. The missile first saw use during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. This weapon's known operators other than the US are Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. 

Source:Russian Video Appears to Show Two HIMARS Launchers Destroyed in Strike