The U.S. government has approved the potential emergency sale of the HIMARS artillery system and related logistics support to the Ukrainian military. This notification was made by the State Department on May 10th, which has already submitted a corresponding letter to the U.S. Congress to authorize the sale of equipment through the FMS program.
Regarding the quantity of HIMARS systems included in Ukraine’s request, a total of three units are included and will be acquired for an amount close to USD 30 million. It is worth clarifying that these funds do not come directly from Ukraine, but from the German government. The HIMARS rocket artillery system will be sourced from the U.S. military inventory.
Furthermore, the US Secretary of State has determined that Congress needs to address this operation within the framework of the well-known military emergency in Ukraine. This means that permits provided by the State Department are not reviewed according to the requirements of Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act.
Regarding the operation, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said: “This proposed sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and respond to Russia’s continued aggression (…) As a result, there will be no negative impact on U.S. defense preparedness.”
The HIMARS system is considered one of the most modern and effective elements of Ukrainian artillery. The system is crucial in destroying long-range, high-value targets due to its ability to use guided projectiles of the GMLRS family, and this has come in handy in recent days as Russia advances on the front lines and pushes back Ukrainian forces. extremely important. It is worth noting that the US HIMARS system and the French-donated M270A1 MLRS rocket launcher both have a range of 160 to 300 kilometers, allowing them to attack Russian-controlled areas such as Berdiansk and Lugansk airfields during the war. .
From Ukraine’s strategic point of view, the effectiveness of HIMARS is virtually indisputable. Although Russia claims to have destroyed numerous troops, it was not until March of this year, more than two years into the conflict, that accurate images of the launcher’s inactivation were confirmed. This comes after other battle-damaged systems were safely pulled out to maintenance sites in the United States. For example, two systems arrived in Pennsylvania in February to undergo repairs at U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin facilities in preparation for return to service in the near future.
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