HIMARS. Specifications. A photo

The M142 HIMARS is a US-made multipurpose missile and multiple rocket launcher system developed by Lockheed Martin. The system is designed to hit targets on the area using rockets, as well as to deliver high-precision strikes using corrected missiles at a distance of up to 500 kilometers.

The M142 HIMARS system (Himars, Himers, Chimera) was created in 2003 and currently continues to be mass-produced and supplied to a number of countries around the world, mainly to American military partners.

The first combat use of the M142 HIMARS was recorded in 2007, during strikes against targets in Iraq. After the system was able to successfully prove itself, it began to be actively produced and supplied to the arsenal of the American army and the armies of other countries. To date, more than 540 launchers of M142 HIMARS systems have been produced.

The M142 HIMARS system uses two types of ammunition - guided and unguided.

Unguided munitions include rockets:

• M26 - unguided rocket projectile with a cluster warhead;
• M26A1 - unguided rocket projectile with a cluster warhead. The maximum target engagement range is 45 kilometers;
• M26A2 - unguided rocket projectile with a cluster warhead. The maximum target engagement range is 45 kilometers;
• M28 - unguided rocket for practical firing;
• M28A1 - unguided rocket for practical firing. Maximum firing range - 9 kilometers;
• M28A2 - unguided rocket for practical firing. Maximum firing range - 9 kilometers;

Guided munitions include rockets:

• M30 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Equipped with a cluster warhead containing 404 submunitions. The maximum firing range is 70 kilometers.
• M30A1 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. It is equipped with a fragmentation warhead consisting of 182000 striking tungsten elements. The maximum firing range is 84 kilometers.
• M30A1 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. It is equipped with a fragmentation warhead consisting of 182000 striking tungsten elements. The maximum firing range is 84 kilometers. The missile has increased speed and reduced radar visibility.
• M31 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The maximum firing range is 84 kilometers.
• M31A1 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The maximum firing range is 84 kilometers. Equipped with the possibility of air blasting.
• M31A2 - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The maximum firing range is 84 kilometers. Equipped with the possibility of air blasting and reduced radar visibility.
• ER GMLRSAW - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Capable of hitting targets at distances up to 150 kilometers.
• ER GMLRS UNITARY - guided missile caliber 227 mm. Capable of hitting targets at distances up to 200 kilometers.

Among other things, Himars systems are capable of delivering strikes with tactical missile weapons, which include the ATACMS missile and PrSM

• ATACMS Block I - a tactical missile with a cluster warhead and an inertial control system. The maximum range of hitting targets is 150 kilometers.
• ATACMS Block IA - tactical missile with a high-explosive warhead. The missile is equipped with an inertial control system and is equipped with a GPS receiver. The maximum range of hitting targets is 150 kilometers.
• ATACMS Block IA Unitary - tactical missile with a high-explosive warhead. The missile is equipped with an inertial control system and is equipped with a GPS receiver. The maximum range of hitting targets is 270 kilometers.
• ATACMS Block II - tactical missile with a cluster warhead. The missile is equipped with an inertial control system and is equipped with a GPS receiver. The maximum range of hitting targets is 140 kilometers.
• ATACMS Block IIA - tactical missile with a high-explosive warhead. The missile is equipped with an inertial control system and is equipped with a GPS receiver. The maximum range of hitting targets is 220 kilometers.
• PrSm - tactical missile with a range of up to 500 kilometers.

M142 HIMARS systems, as of December 2022, are in service with such countries as:

• USA;
• Singapore;
• UAE;
• Jordan;
• Romania;
• Ukraine.

The greatest use of the M142 HIMARS MLRS was received in combat operations in Ukraine. In an estimated six months, at least 5000 guided and unguided missiles were fired. As of the end of 2022, Ukraine is the largest operator of Himars, second only to the United States - according to various estimates, Ukraine has up to 38 Himars launchers in service, while not a single fact of the destruction of these systems has been revealed.

Estonia and Poland may become one of the largest operators of Himars systems in the near future. Estonia intends to acquire up to 50 launchers, while Poland plans to acquire up to 500 Himars system launchers.