Ukraine Receives First, More Powerful M270 MLRS – Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov announced on his Twitter page Friday that Ukraine has received its first M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), which is produced by the United States.
“Long Hand Family of #UAarmy has been enlarged: the first MLRS M270 have arrived! They will be good company for #HIMARS on the battlefield. Thank you to our partners. No mercy for the enemy,” Reznikov posted.
While he didn’t directly comment on where the MLRS was sent from, the British Ministry of Defense had said back in June that they were going to send Ukraine the M270. Last month UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the launchers should be a great help for Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.
“These highly capable multiple-launch rocket systems will enable our Ukrainian friends to better protect themselves against the brutal use of long-range artillery, which Putin’s forces have used indiscriminately to flatten cities,” Wallace said to the BBC.
What is the M270 MLRS System?
The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is designed to supplement artillery systems that can deliver a large volume of firepower in a very short time against critical, time-sensitive targets. The MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is a highly mobile automatic system based on a Bradley chassis.
The M270 launcher carries 12 rockets in two six rocket pods, which a three-man crew can launch without leaving the vehicle’s cab. It can launch all 12 rockets in about a minute. The range of the system is difficult to ascertain, as the range is determined in many respects by what sort of ordinance is used.
Russian Military Analyst Worries About Influx of Western Weapons Like M270 MLRS
Igor Korotchenko, frequently quoted in Russian media as the editor in chief of Russia’s Nation Defense, was interviewed on state-run television Russia-1 and was asked how the introduction of heavier, long-range weapons from the West could influence the war.
“The scale of additional Western arms deliveries will seriously complicate our success of conducting our special military operation,” Korotchenko said in a translation on Twitter.
He added that any attacks on Russian-held territory in Ukraine, such as Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Mykolaiv, are now part of Russia and should be treated as attacks on Russia itself.
Since the introduction of the HIMARS missile system, the Ukrainians have increased their attacks on Russian ammunition depots, which has slowed down their artillery strikes, especially in the Donbas.
A map posted on Twitter showed artillery strikes on July 8, then on July 12, and the much lesser amount was attributed to the “HIMARS effect.” All 12 of the HIMARS missile systems promised by the US have now been delivered. And depending on how many M270s the Ukrainians receive, could have a major impact on Russian offensive operations in the Donbas. Both are GPS-guided and are accurate to within 2-3 meters.
Steve Balestrieri is a 1945 National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer before injuries forced his early separation. In addition to writing for 19fortyfive.com and other military news organizations, he has covered the NFL for PatsFans.com for over 11 years. His work was regularly featured in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle and Grafton News newspapers in Massachusetts.
