How MLRS and other advanced rocket systems are tipping ‘battle of fires’ in Ukraine’s favour | World News
Artillery strikes are playing a key role in Russia’s war in Ukraine, which top US commanders call “a fiery battle”.
The Russian military initially had a significant advantage over the Ukrainian armed forces due to its much larger arsenal than artillery systems.
That means they can wreak havoc on Ukrainian positions in the east, while staying out of range of Ukrainian weapons.
Britain, the United States and Germany belatedly attempted to balance the fire on the battlefield in Ukraine’s favor by providing their allies with artillery systems that not only had a longer range than Russia’s, but also fired with greater accuracy. higher body.
This includes equipping the Ukrainian military with multiple launch rocket systems, or MLRS.
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What is MLRS and what version does the UK use?
MLRS stands for “Multiple-Launch Rocket System”, a mobile rocket artillery system that fires multiple surface-to-surface missiles.
The Royal Artillery of the British Army uses the M270 missile system.
Operated by a crew of three (driver, gunner and chief of staff), the weapon is a highly maneuverable, automated system that can fire 12 surface-to-surface precision-guided missiles. soil in less than a minute. They can be fired individually or in pairs, up to 12.
The M31 Multiple Guided Launch Missile System (GMLRS) ammunition, with its 200 lb high explosive warhead, can hit targets more than 50 miles away – twice the range of other artillery systems used by the military. .
A program is underway to expand the reach even further.
The fire control computer ensures accuracy is maintained by re-aiming the launcher between shots.
The M270 MLRS was developed under a US-led program that saw the first systems enter service in the 1980s.
Great Britain used its MLRS for the first time during the First Gulf War
Sky News is the first to obtain a license to film the multiple launch missile system given to Ukraine by the UK
What did Britain give Ukraine to increase its firepower?
The UK has provided a total of 6 MLRSs to Ukraine, as well as precision-guided M31A1 missiles.
The first batch of three was announced in June 2022, with Defense Secretary Ben Wallace saying the system would “help the country defend itself against Russian aggression”.
Two months later, a new pledge aims to double the UK’s contribution.
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Why does Ukraine want MLRS?
The British MLRS and a similar US-supplied artillery system to Ukraine, known as the High Mobility Artillery Missile System (HIMARS), have a longer range, better accuracy and a faster rate of fire. compared to the Soviet-designed Smerch, Uragan and Tornado. Many rocket launchers are used by both Russia and Ukraine.
Germany supplied Ukraine with its version – the MARS II rocket launcher as well as hundreds of missiles.
That means the Ukrainian military can strike Russian positions – including armored vehicles, military bases, command posts and ammunition depots – with precision and with a reduced risk of being attacked by Russia. shoot back.
The Russian army was forced to use a large number of bullets fired at the target to make up for the lack of accuracy of their weapons.
The British M31A1 missile is designed to defend against Russian heavy artillery and the MLRS’s range of more than 50 miles allows Ukraine to strike beyond Russia’s lines, while keeping it out of reach of most air defense systems. Russian artillery system.
Western leaders have so far limited supplying Ukraine with longer-range missiles to launch that can reach targets up to 186 miles, allowing the military to strike areas deep inside Russian territory. .
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Does Russia have MLRS?
Russia has its own multi-role launcher: 9K58 Smerch 300mm MLRS. It fires the 300mm 9M55K missile and has a range of 12 to 43 miles.
Smerch was developed in the early 1980s and entered service with the Russian Army in 1988.
It is also used by the armies of India, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Ukraine, and is exported to Kuwait and Algeria.
What is the difference between MLRS and HIMARS?
HIMARS can fire the same ammunition family as MLRS launchers, but there is one key difference: the chassis has wheels instead of rails.
The rails on the MLRS make the system highly maneuverable, with a top speed of 40mph.
This means that the launchers are difficult for the enemy to detect and can quickly change position after firing to escape air strikes, a “shoot and shoot” strategy.
What are the disadvantages of MLRS?
Ukraine says the number of missile launchers supplied by Western leaders is still too small.
In June, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the President of Ukraine, said the country needed at least 300 MLRS, 1,000 heavy artillery, 500 tanks and 2,000 armored vehicles – more than what the West has provided.
In addition to supplying missile launchers to the Ukrainian army, the UK has also train some Ukrainian troops on how to operate the system.
