Watch HIMARS In Action In Ukraine – Video footage shared on social media this week shows the M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher in action in Ukraine.
The video footage shows the Lockheed Martin weapon parked in the middle of a road and appears to have been recorded by soldiers parked in a vehicle just dozens of feet away from the weapon.
The rocket launcher, mounted onto a military truck, moves into position and then fires.
As the first missile is fired, a huge ball of flames can be seen at the base of the launcher. The rocket launches and a large cloud of dust quickly engulfs both vehicles.
As the dust begins to settle, the launcher folds back into the truck and the pod designed to hold six ATACMS or GMLRS rockets can be seen at the system’s rear.
U.S. Announces $350 Million Aid, Including HIMARS Ammunition
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the latest round of aid for Ukraine.
The latest package, worth $350 million, includes ammunition for HIMARS. The package also includes river boats, which will prove hugely valuable in areas where key supply bridges have been destroyed by Russian forces.
“This week, as Russia’s unconscionable war of aggression against Ukraine continues at great human cost, we are again reminded of the boundless courage and steadfast resolve of the Ukrainian people, and the strong support for Ukraine across the international community,” Blinken announced on Monday.
Three U.S. military officials also reportedly told VOA News that the latest package, the 34th presidential drawdown of U.S. military supplies and weapons to be sent to Ukraine over the last year, will also include 155mm ammunition designer for NATO-supplied Howitzers, as well as more 25mm rounds.
The announcement comes as European Union leaders agree to send an additional one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next 12 months, a package worth $2.14bn,
In a meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign and defense ministers backed the plan. EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell announced the move on Twitter, describing the “historic decision” agreed upon at the meeting.
“We are taking a key step towards delivering on our promises to provide Ukraine with more artillery ammunition,” the top EU official said, adding that 18 countries have so far signed up to the project, coordinated by the European Defense Agency.
The announcement also revealed that Norway, a non-EU member state, will play a role in the procurement of the ammunition over the next year.
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— Feher_Junior (@Feher_Junior) March 21, 2023
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.
