Russia fails to destroy a single HIMARS

Forbes reported the information.

According to the article, despite being prime targets for Russian forces in their extended war against Ukraine, not a single HIMARS has been destroyed. A recent incident, where a Russian drone observed a HIMARS in action, did not result in the launcher's destruction. The HIMARS swiftly maneuvered into a treeline after launching its rockets, and subsequent Russian rocket strikes failed to cause a secondary explosion, indicating that the HIMARS had evaded capture.

This escape highlights a recurring challenge for Russian forces in Ukraine. Despite having a theoretically swift kill-chain, incorporating drones, radars, and artillery batteries at the brigade and battalion levels, the practical application often falters in the heat of combat. Issues such as a shortage of drones and inadequately trained artillery gunners contribute to breakdowns in the fire-control circuit.

“Most of the gunners, before Feb. 24, had no idea how to fight in modern conditions,” wrote Maksim Fomin, DPR militant.

The introduction of HIMARS in Ukraine compelled Russian forces to improve their artillery kill-chain in the war's second year. While more units gained access to Orlan-10 drones, and some artillery batteries acquired their own drones for targeting, the response time still fell short when dealing with the rapid mobility of HIMARS.