Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Putin Won’t Want to Watch This: U.S. HIMARS Are Hitting Russian Forces in Ukraine

Published

A HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket System fires during a training session at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., March 9, 2012. HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is the newest asset of the Florida Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment.
A HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket System fires during a training session at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., March 9, 2012. HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is the newest asset of the Florida Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment.

U.S. Completes HIMAR Training for 100 Ukrainian Troops – As part of a fresh $400 million aid package for Ukraine, the United States is expected to send four additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS.

The package will bring the total number of HIMARS sent to Ukraine to 12 – and after the weapons proved useful for Ukrainian troops, reports reveal how the United States has just completed a round of training for Ukrainian troops on how to use them.

Following the news of the new round of aid, reports revealed how the United States military has successfully trained 100 Ukrainian troops on how to use the new HIMARS. A senior United States Department of Defense official revealed the news on Friday, describing how “upwards of 100” Ukrainians have been trained at this stage.

Also on Friday, another senior official from the Department of Defense revealed how the latest aid package would also include 1,000 rounds of 155mm artillery munitions, as well as three tactical vehicles to help Ukrainian troops recover equipment from the battlefield.

Watch U.S. HIMARS In Use In Ukraine

The first footage of American HIMARS being used by Ukrainians in combat was shared on Facebook this week by a Ukrainian account. The short clip included audio and visuals of the rockets being fired.

Recorded at night, the only visuals appear when the light from the launching HIMARS rockets illuminates the surrounding space, revealing a farm field and a mound of earth and trees.

Several HIMARS rockets are launched in quick succession, revealing just how advanced and dangerous the missile system is.

Additional footage was also released on Telegram by a Ukrainian-language account,

The clip, which is backed by the theme tune from The X Files, shows Ukrainian soldiers working together and operating the American HIMARS. The video is highly edited and looks almost as if it could be a trailer for a movie – and that’s by design. Videos like this have been released frequently by both the Ukrainian and Russian Armed Forces with the intent of proving military prowess and intimidating the enemy.

“The M142 HIMARS rocket launcher systems are already working in the interests of the defense of Ukraine. Artillerymen of the Armed Forces skillfully hit designated targets – enemy military facilities on our, Ukrainian, territory.

Thank you to the American people for the weapons provided!” a statement shared alongside the video reads.

“Our goal is Victory.”

Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.

In this article:, , , ,
Written By

Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive's Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.