U.S. to Send Additional HIMARS to Ukraine
20 November, 2023 Loading a container of M30A1 rockets into an M142 HIMARS launcher of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, June 2020. Photo credits: DVIDS The United States has agreed to send an additional M142 HIMARS rocket system with an unknown launcher modification to Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of Defense stated it would also replenish Ukraine's ammunition stocks. The additional package for Ukraine includes £100 million in defense aid.
The capabilities in this package include:
- Additional ammunition for HIMARS;
- Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;
- 155mm artillery rounds;
- 105mm artillery rounds;
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
- Javelin anti-armor systems;
- AT-4 anti-armor systems.
Ukraine will also receive over 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition, demolition munitions for obstacle clearing, cold weather gear and spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.
Stinger MANPADS. Photo from open sources
The Pentagon stressed that military assistance to Ukraine is "a wise investment in our national security" and urged Congress to accept the additional funds requested by the White House so that the U.S. could continue to provide it.
Volodymyr Zelensky also noted after a conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, that Ukraine would receive more artillery and shells.
An additional HIMARS
The transfer of only one U.S. M142 HIMARS rocket system may indicate that it will have a unique modification of the launcher.
It is possible that it is being transferred for the use of ATACMS long-range missiles, which are secretly supplied to Ukraine.
M142 HIMARS and ATACMS missiles. Photo credits: Mariusz Burcz
Also, the modified M142 HIMARS was considered for the use of GLSDB small-diameter bombs. GLSDB is produced jointly by SAAB AB and Boeing and has been under development since 2019.
In June, it became known that the first deliveries of GLSDB ground-launched small-diameter bombs to Ukraine would not be made until the fall.
GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb)
Structurally, the GLSDB is a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb that weighs 130 kilograms with an M26 rocket engine.
The GBU-39`s wings deploy in the air, which significantly increases the operational range.