HIMARS Wipes Out Russian Air Defense Element, Video

The 45th Artillery Brigade of the 11th Army Corps destroyed a Russian 9A316 transporter erector launcher and radar element from the Buk air defense system using an M142 HIMARS rocket system.

The unit announced the operation on social media. Video footage shows the Russian crew firing two interceptor missiles in an attempt to shoot down incoming rockets.

Reconnaissance personnel from a neighboring unit in the 3rd Army Corps detected the target and passed its position to the strike team.

Shortly after the attempted intercept, a precision rocket struck the Russian installation, setting off a secondary explosion that completely detonated the vehicle.

Analysis suggests Ukrainian forces employed an M30A1 rocket loaded with tungsten shrapnel submunitions, a payload engineered to neutralize personnel and lightly armored equipment.

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This marks the first confirmed use of American HIMARS platforms by the 45th Artillery Brigade. The unit also operates German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, Swedish Archer systems, and Ukrainian Bohdana artillery pieces during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The M142 HIMARS was also recently spotted in service with the 147th Separate Artillery Brigade of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces.

Earlier, Ukrainian drone operators destroyed two Russian 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers in the Vovchansk direction after locating the systems behind the front line despite their attempts to change positions and use camouflage.

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