Ukraine uses guided missiles of its own production with longer range than HIMARS – National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries

Ivan Vinnyk, Deputy Chairman of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries, told about it in a commentary to The War Zone.

The article says that the Vilkha-M missiles are produced in small quantities and can hit targets at a distance of 68 miles (about 110 km) with a larger warhead than the M31 fired by HIMARS.

Ivan Vynnyk explained that the Vilkha-M is a modified Soviet BM-30 Smerch artillery missile. It has a 300-mm warhead weighing 220 kg that can hit targets with high accuracy. For comparison, the HIMARS and M270 systems provided to Ukraine can fire at a range of approximately 80 km.

During the US-Ukraine Security Dialogue XV conference held at the National Press Club in Washington DC, Vinnyk said that Ukraine had used the Vilkha-M in combat, but did not specify where exactly.

Speaking to The War Zone, Vinnyk said that the program to modify the Vilkha-M began in 2018 and about 100 pieces were produced. According to him, these systems were first used in combat in May 2022. He explained that the system's accuracy will be improved by the so-called "gas rudders" – dozens of small holes that release fuel – used to guide a missile to the target by GPS.

The accuracy parameters of this system are not yet disclosed. It is known that these munitions shoot 36% further with more than twice the payload of GMLRS.

According to Vinnyk, there are plans to modify the Vilkha-M to increase its range to 150 km, but he refused to say when and how many such modifications will be made.

"Let's just say that we hope that it will be just in time for the counteroffensive in the south of the country in the Azov region," said Vinnyk.

According to him, the new modifications will not be tested before being used in combat.

"The tests will take place on the battlefield," said Vinnyk.

In March 2022, the press service of the Luch design bureau reported that in the first week of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Ukrainian Vilkha system hit the Russian occupiers and their equipment about 50 times.