Ukrainian decoy tricks Russians into wasting $3M missile
The Russian military released a video purportedly showing the destruction of an M270 MLRS rocket launcher. However, this time, the Ukrainians were more cunning as they used a rubber mock-up of the vehicle. Here, we discuss the capabilities of the real equipment.
9:42 AM EDT, August 19, 2024
The war in Ukraine continues with no end in sight. Despite the passage of time, the conflict remains intense, with military actions ongoing and bringing further destruction and suffering to the civilian population.
Ukraine has received significant Western military equipment, which is extremely valuable but also attracts the enemy's attention. To minimize losses, Ukrainian soldiers use mock-ups to deceive the enemy and divert attention from real targets.
They outsmarted the Russians
The Russian military identified a Ukrainian M270 MLRS rocket launcher after it fired a salvo of GMLRS missiles. Observers lost visual contact with the equipment, but a few miles away, they discovered a firing position. The published video supposedly shows the destruction of the M270 MLRS launcher using an Iskander-M missile.
Weapons experts mocked the video. The Ukrainians once again outsmarted their opponent by using a rubber mock-up of the launcher. A missile worth about $3 million was wasted on an imitation of the equipment.
Why are the Russians targeting the M270 MLRS launchers?
The United Kingdom and the United States supplied the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) launchers. The launchers have turned the tide of the war and are at the top of the Russian target list.
The M270 MLRS is a system of multi-launch rocket launchers that fires 227-mm surface-to-surface missiles. These powerful machines are mounted on a tracked chassis and have been in use since the 1980s.
One M270 MLRS launcher can impressively carry 12 227-mm rockets. Alternatively, it can carry two MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles with a range of up to 186 miles. These values are twice those offered by the smaller, lighter-wheeled M142 HIMARS systems.
These incredibly effective systems allow for striking targets at up to 50 miles using GMLRS rockets. This distance can be increased to 93 miles by using the GMLRS-ER or GLSDB variant. Only GMLRS missiles in the M31A1/2 variant have been observed in Ukraine. These missiles have a 198-pound high-explosive fragmentation warhead, known as "unitary," the M30A1 has the Alternative Warhead, showing the area with tungsten fragments.
