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Wheeled MLRS Systems Going to Ukraine

It is more transportable.

Earlier in this blog, I had guessed and identified the wrong rocket system as going to Ukraine (see “The U.S. Sending Rocket Systems to Ukraine”). Then they had an official announcement.

Oops! Wrong MLRS system. The one now designated to go to Ukraine is this one: High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) — M142.

The advantage of this system is in its name, “High Mobility,” which means instead of being on a track chassis, it is on a wheeled truck-like transporter. This also makes the weapons system more transportable due to the lesser weight requirements.

Ukraine needs these systems to have a range advantage when targeting Russian artillery systems that are pounding cities and the frontline Ukrainian positions.

Russians love their artillery. In World War II they produced over 500,000 artillery guns. Reports now estimate they have 4,700 self-propelled guns and rocket launchers.

If you recall, the United States was sending longer range 155 mm artillery pieces to Ukraine. How many? Ninety guns.

Thus the M142 rocket system.
Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.