Final HIMARS delivery completes Poland's military upgrade
To Poland by air (using the world's largest transport aircraft, the An-124 Ruslan), two final M142 HIMARS launchers have arrived. The military now has a complete set of all 20 units ordered in 2019.
As stated by the Polish Deputy Minister of Defence Paweł Bejda on Friday, November 22, the last two HIMARS launchers have arrived in Poland. "The first stage of the Homar-A launcher deliveries is complete. This morning, a special aircraft carrying, among other things, two HIMARS launchers arrived in Poland," Bejda communicated on platform X.
Two HIMARS units have arrived in Poland
The Armament Agency adds that the HIMARS units are equipped with M68A2 pods intended for training purposes. Previously, 18 launchers arrived in Poland, along with accompanying vehicles, which together form an extensive complex based on systems like the AFATDS fire control system.
The transport of two launchers results from an agreement between Poland and the United States dated February 13, 2013. It includes 20 HIMARS launchers, allowing the formation of one fire module battalion in Poland. The latest HIMARS units arrived on board the Antonov An-124.
HIMARS system
The main advantage of the HIMARS system lies in its ability to use different types of ammunition, including MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, which enable attacks on targets up to about 300 kilometres away. Precise inertial and satellite navigation allows for exceptional accuracy in hitting objects, making HIMARS one of the most effective artillery tools on the modern battlefield.
The HIMARS system is designed to use various kinds of ammunition due to its versatility. The primary use in standard practice involves MLRS rockets of 227 millimetres in calibre, capable of hitting targets at a distance of about 80 kilometres. Besides standard ammunition, HIMARS can use MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 300 kilometres, depending on the version. Each rocket in this system is equipped with a combination of inertial and satellite navigation, ensuring exceptional hit precision of just a few metres.
