For two weeks, a new weapon has been influencing the war on the Ukrainian side: HIMARS. An American missile system that again causes major logistical problems for the Russians.
The grueling war of attrition in eastern Ukraine is moving: for two weeks now, the Ukrainian defenders have had a new trump card hidden behind the abbreviations HIMARS and M270. Fast US launch pads, armored with sapphire glass (see picture below), that can use missiles to deliver 100 kilograms of explosives up to 80 kilometers deep into the rear of the Russian attackers – where ammunition depots and command posts are located.
Same problem as at the beginning of the war
The projectiles are guided by a GPS sensor and hit pre-programmed coordinates with pinpoint accuracy, which is why the US military calls the weapons the “finger of God”. But why does a handful of rocket launchers – no matter how modern – suddenly become a problem for the Russians, who are many more?
“Because the Russians have to arrange their logistics again, just like at the beginning of the war,” explains Colonel Markus Reisner of the military academy in Wiener Neustadt. Reisner is now one of Europe’s best-known military experts. His YouTube videos appear in German and English and regularly reach more than half a million people.
Also psychological effects
“With HIMARS, the Ukrainians hit large arms depots that were set up far from the front to be replenished. And thereby forcing the Russians to distribute their ammunition stocks and their command posts more widely. This is especially a problem at command posts, because Russia has traditionally had very centralized command structures. ”, says Reisner.
A psychological effect is also noticeable. “First, the American missiles are causing a shock to the Russian soldiers. On the other hand, it also strengthens their sense of belonging: we are not only fighting against Ukraine, we are fighting against the entire West.”
Weapons and exploration come from the West
In fact, the GPS guided ammunition only works with good reconnaissance. For example, if the radio signals of Russian generals can be located in a command post, it often takes only a few minutes for a missile to be on its way. When a satellite finds a large collection of trucks at a train station, it quickly catches fire. In both cases, massive aid from the West is behind the blows against Russian supplies.
Number of weapons still too small
Does Ukraine finally have an effective antidote to Russian attrition? “The effects are remarkable, but Ukraine has received very few of these weapons,” Reisner said, speaking of a “drop in the ocean.” But the Ukrainians are shaping the battlefield according to their ideas. Artillery, the “god of war”, is now also the focus on their side.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
