Why Russia Hasn't Utilized Weapons Like HIMARS to Destroy Ukrainian Military Targets
Throughout the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the effectiveness of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) employed by Western NATO allies has been widely recognized. Russia, despite possessing a formidable stationary artillery arsenal, has struggled to replicate similar success. This article explores the reasons behind Russia's inability to use weapons like HIMARS and the impact on their military operations.
The Significance of HIMARS in Ukraine
The HIMARS, a versatile land-based mobile rocket system, has proven to be a game-changer in modern warfare. Its precision and mobility have allowed Ukraine to strike key military targets and infrastructure with relative ease. This weapon's success has raised questions about why Russia, despite having similar or even more advanced equipment, has not achieved comparable results.
Limited Availability of ACCURATE Weapons
One of the primary reasons Russia hasn't replicated Ukraine's successes with HIMARS is the limited availability of accurate weapons. Russia has significant stationary artillery resources, but these have not been as effective in mobile, targeted strikes. In many instances, Russia has been forced to use older or less advanced weapons, as seen in the liberation of Kherson where T-62 tanks, some dating back to the 1960s, were deployed. These tanks were used due to the extensive destruction of more modern T-72 and T-90 tanks during operations in Kyiv and Kharkiv.
Russian Arsenal Capabilities
While Russia does possess a highly capable multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) with a precision rocket platform known as the Tornado-S, it falls short in several key areas when compared to the HIMARS. The Tornado-S outperforms the HIMARS in terms of launch readiness, breakdown times, road speed, and off-road speed. Additionally, the range of the Tornado-S's rockets is nearly double that of the M30 rockets used by Ukrainians with their HIMARS systems.
The Lack of Effective Intelligence
A significant factor in Russia's failure to replicate HIMARS' successes is a severe lack of effective intelligence on Ukrainian positions, troop movements, and equipment. Russian military bloggers and analysts have noted that while the Tornado-S has all the physical capabilities to match or surpass the HIMARS, it has not been used for its intended target-critical missions. Some key reasons include:
The Russian military is struggling to gain reliable intelligence on Ukrainian military positions, making it challenging to identify and strike specific targets accurately. Ukraine's ability to maintain secure and resilient communication and logistical networks has made it difficult for Russia to locate and neutralize key targets. Russian efforts to knock out HIMARS installations have failed, possibly due to shortcomings in intelligence gathering and targeting. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s personal visits to Ukrainian rear positions, which are within range of Russian artillery, have never been brought under fire, suggesting that Russian intelligence may be severely lacking. satellite intelligence issues may also play a role in the Russian military's difficulty in identifying critical targets.Case Studies and Counter-Artillery Efforts
Several case studies further highlight Russia's challenges. For instance, on December 7, 2022, a precision strike destroyed two M270 MLRS launchers and over 70 units of ammunition for these launchers at the ArcelorMittal plant in Krivoy Rog. Additionally, five M270 launchers and two M142 HIMARS launchers were destroyed in Ilyichevka, Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), on December 8, 2022. These strikes indicate the capability of precision weapons like HIMARS.
Russian military analysts generally agree that the limited success of their weapons can be attributed to their inability to gather accurate intelligence on Ukrainian positions, a factor they acknowledge contributed to the failure of targeting Ukrainian HIMARS installations effectively.
The Verdict: Telling vs. Showing Results
Russian military analysts understand the importance of credible results and are skeptical of claims that lack supporting evidence. This war has demonstrated that the Russian government can be prone to exaggeration and misinformation, leading to doubts about the veracity of their reports.
It is clear that while Russia possesses advanced artillery systems capable of matching the HIMARS, the operational inefficiencies and intelligence shortcomings continue to hinder their ability to achieve similar results. Understanding these challenges is crucial for anticipating future military operations and strategic decisions in the ongoing conflict.
Stay updated on the latest developments as the situation in Ukraine evolves.