The Russian navy destroyed dozens of HIMARS rockets and a few multiple-launch rocket programs (MLRS) programs in central and japanese areas of Ukraine, in accordance with a current replace by the Russian Ministry of Protection (MoD).
Russian MoD spokesperson Lieutenant-Basic Igor Konashenkov reported on December 7 that Russian troops destroyed 70 HIMARS rockets and two MLRS in a precision strike towards the ArcelorMittal plant in Kryvyi Rih.
“In line with the confirmed data, a strike by ground-based high-precision weapons towards a missile/artillery armament depot in one of many workshops of the ArcelorMittal metallurgical plant within the metropolis of Kryvyi Rih destroyed over 70 rockets of the HIMARS a number of launch rocket system and two a number of rocket launchers,” Konashenkov stated.
Along with that, 4 different MLRS programs have been critically broken within the strike, Konashenkov added.
It’s not attainable to independently confirm Russian MoD’s claims, besides {that a} Russian missile did strike the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih plant on December 5. As per Ukrainian sources, one particular person was killed and three injured on this missile strike.
On the night time of December 5, 2022, the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation struck the ArcelorMittal Krivoy Rog plant. pic.twitter.com/42BH9Gyq0Z
— Meridionali Aura (@MeridionaliAura) December 5, 2022
Konashenkov additional reported that one other HIMARS MLRS, together with a cache of ammunition, was destroyed within the Donetsk area.
“A strike towards the Ukrainian military’s tools restoration level within the space of the settlement of Malotaranovka within the Donetsk Individuals’s Republic destroyed a HIMARS rocket launcher and 48 rockets,” Konashenkov stated.
Winter Favors Russia
The most recent Russian claims of successes towards HIMARS MLRS come amid recommendations by consultants that the HIMARS system is unsuitable for fight operations within the autumn and winter seasons.
The HIMARS started arriving in Ukraine through the summertime and proved to be a game-changer for Kyiv by turning the tide of the continuing battle in favor of the Ukrainian armed forces.
HIMARS supplied the Ukrainian navy with a speedy precision strike functionality at standoff ranges with out the necessity for air energy, thereby permitting the Ukrainian navy to compensate for the small dimension of its air pressure.
Nonetheless, a Russian officer of the first military corps of the Donetsk area not too long ago informed Russian information company RIA Novosti “the depth of the usage of the MLRS HIMARS by the enemy has considerably decreased” because the begin of winter.”
Indian Air Power veteran and navy analyst Vijainder Okay Thakur beforehand informed the EurAsian Instances that the Ukrainian Army has been fighting a number of points because the winter set in, similar to lack of foliage as cowl, the issue of constructing tracks in mud and snow, and the requirement of particular gas and lubricants.
Thakur defined that lack of foliage cowl had imposed limitations on HIMARS’ ‘shoot and scoot’ functionality, as earlier the American-made MLRS system would launch rockets in speedy succession after which shortly conceal behind foliage cowl, similar to in a close-by forest, nevertheless, now there isn’t any greenery to cover beneath due to winter.
This allows the Russian ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) belongings similar to drones, satellites, and the Tu-214R reconnaissance plane to detect HIMARS extra readily, thereby exposing the weapon system to Russian precision strikes.
Russia Claims 100% Interception Charge In opposition to HIMARS?
Along with destroying HIMARS MLRS and rockets, Russian air protection models allegedly intercepted 4 HIMARS rockets and different rockets fired by Olkha and Uragan MLRS operated by Ukrainian forces.
“4 rockets of HIMARS, Olkha, and Uragan a number of launch rocket programs have been intercepted within the areas of the settlements of Olkhovatka within the Kharkiv Area, Pervomaisk and Frunze within the Lugansk Individuals’s Republic and Volnovakha within the Donetsk Individuals’s Republic,” Konashenkov stated.
The Russian air protection troops have obtained new software program that enables them to detect and shoot down HIMARS rockets swiftly.
A commander of a Russian air protection unit stationed within the Zaporizhzhia area not too long ago informed native Russian media that the brand new software program permits them to shoot down HIMARS MLRS missiles “with out difficulties.”
Russian air protection models obtained new software program that makes it simple to shoot down HIMARS missiles, pic.twitter.com/3NVde10ADR
— /Spriter/ (@Spriter0000) December 2, 2022
“If on the preliminary stage the Russian air protection forces didn’t perceive what the HIMARS MLRS missiles have been, then after the firmware of the brand new program, they turned a “regular goal,” the Russian air protection commander was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
“We freely see, observe and destroy with out issues,” the Russian commander added whereas noting that his unit had efficiently managed to shoot down roughly 10 HIMARS rockets, together with 4 in November.
Russian consultants say that the brand new software program allows the Russian air protection models to make calculations which are roughly one hundred pc correct, thereby permitting them to shoot down HIMARS rockets shortly.
Alexei Podberezkin, the director of the Heart for Army-Political Research of MGIMO, informed Sputnik radio, “In precept, even earlier than the brand new software program, 75-80 % of the missiles that have been launched by HIMARS programs have been shot down, however not one hundred pc.”
Podberezkin additional defined {that a} HIMARS rocket is fairly lengthy, and an air protection missile should strike precisely at its warhead to destroy it.
He additionally famous that HIMARS rockets are fired from extremely lengthy distances, and it is very important calculate their course precisely, as minor errors in course calculation will trigger the interceptor missile to overlook hitting its goal.
That is the place the software program replace is available in, because it allows the exact calculation of the rocket’s course to make sure that the rocket warhead is struck.
Total, Russia appears to have concentrated its efforts on defeating HIMARS, and apparently, these efforts are paying off if the newest Russian claims are something to go by.
