Ukraine hasn’t lost a single US Himars system to Russia

The United States has provided Ukraine with more than seventy-five billion dollars in aid since Vladimir Putin ordered his invasion of the country. Most of the money was given in the form of weapons and there’s been one system that’s made a big difference. 

Throughout the war, the M142 American High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which is often abbreviated to Himars, has been key to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield. But that begs the question: why? What makes the Himars so useful for Kyiv?

Phoot Credit: Wiki Commons By Sgt. Isabelle Dickey-Kappenman

When Washington first announced it planned to provide Himars to Ukraine, the decision was met with a wide range of speculation in the media about how the systems would be a game changer for Ukraine in its struggle to defeat Russia in battle. 

One Department of Defense official explained that they believed Himars would alter the situation on the frontlines since the systems would give Ukraine the ability to target and destroy key logistical hubs and supply caches they could hit before. 

"I think there has been a significant impact on what's going on, on the front line… they're spending a lot of time striking targets like ammunition, supplies, other logistical supplies, command and control,” the official said before explaining the impact.  

“All those things have a direct impact on the ability to conduct operations,” the unnamed official said, and their assessment was right. Over the next year and a half, Ukraine used its Himars to wipe out Russian supply and logistics. 

One of the most important roles Himars played in the conflict was the impact they had on the liberation of Kherson, something The Institute for the Study of War’s George Barros told Time was only possible because of the Himars the US provided. 

The extended strike capabilities the Ukrainians gained when they were given the rocket artillery systems allowed Kyiv to degrade the Russian brigades defending the right side of the Dnipro River, and Ukraine's strikes ultimately forced a retreat.  

“HIMARS have liberated strategically significant Ukrainian cities and territory that likely otherwise wouldn’t have happened… It’s a glowing report card,” Barros said. However, what can the rocket artillery systems actually do on the battlefield?

The M142 Himars can fire up to six basic rockets as far as 20 miles according to Military Today, but more advanced rockets with extended range can hit targets as far as 43 miles away and specialized rockets can fly up to 93 miles.

When outfitted with the American MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), Himars crews can strike targets nearly 200 miles away, making the system a powerful tool for taking out vital military installations and equipment. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center

When the first US-supplied Himars arrived in June 2022, they nearly doubled the range at which Ukraine could operate according to Time. This made the Himars a prime target on the battlefield. But they have proven to be a slippery foe. 

Of the 39 Himars that Ukraine currently operates, not a single one has been destroyed by Russia according to Forbes. But that’s not for a lack of trying on Moscow’s part. The Himars are just extremely good at launching their rockets and moving. 

However, that doesn’t mean that Russia isn’t trying. In January 2024, images posted to social media showed that Russia had spotted a Himars out in the open for the first time since the systems were shipped to Ukraine. But it got away. 

“After firing its rockets, the vehicle scooted into a treeline,” explained Forbes’ David Axe. about the encounter. “When Russian rockets targeted the same treeline sometime later, there was no secondary explosion—likely proof that the HIMARS no longer was there.”

“The Russians couldn’t act fast enough to catch the Ukrainian launcher,” Axe continued, adding that the” time between spotting and engaging a target simply was too great” and noting poorly trained Russians had so far saved the systems from destruction. 

How long it will be before Russia takes out a Himars is not known, nor is whether or not Moscow can accomplish such a feat at all. What we do know is that as long as Ukraine has its Himars firing rockets, Russia will continue to suffer major losses.