How HIMARS Launchers Are Changing The Dynamics In Ukraine's Fight Against Russia

It has been a standard, largely unnoticed part of the American military arsenal for decades. But when HIMARS (an acronym that stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) appeared in Ukraine, it changed the face of the battle. “This ability has given the Ukrainians the potential to completely change the dynamics and direction of this war,” said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army Europe.

He said HIMARS, which fires a 200-pound warhead up to 50 miles and hits within 10 feet of its intended target, has virtually eliminated Russia’s numerical advantage.

“You don’t have to have hundreds of artillery shells to have the same effect as a missile launched from HIMARS,” Hodges said.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin asked, “Is Ukraine still outnumbered?”

“In numbers I would say yes. But what really counts is the impact. And the impact that Ukraine is making at this point seems to me superior to what the Russians can do.”

A HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) launcher. / Photo credit: CBS News

Since June, the US has delivered 16 HIMARS launchers and thousands of missiles to Ukraine, which defense officials say the Ukrainians have used to attack more than 350 Russian command posts, ammunition depots, supply depots and other high-value targets far behind the front lines.

Hodges said, “The HIMARS and other long-range capabilities have given the Ukrainians the ability to reach and hit targets that the Russians would have thought safe.”

Martin asked, “Why can’t you just move all those command posts and ammo depots further back from the front line and out of reach?”

“You still have to get the ammo to the guns closer to the front,” Hodges replied. “So now you’ve increased the distance that the trucks with very heavy ammo have to move. And they’ve lost well over 1,000 trucks in this campaign so far. The result is a significant reduction in the amount of Russian artillery and rocket fire affecting Ukrainian forces.”

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All from a weapon made at a Lockheed Martin plant in rural Arkansas — a seemingly insignificant outpost in America’s vast military-industrial complex now trying to catch up with the sudden demand for HIMARS.

“Sunday Morning” followed the Pentagon’s Chief Weapons Buyer, Dr. William LaPlante as he made plans to dramatically increase production.

“We have to plan for at least a doubling – production here will probably double,” LaPlante said.

Martin asked, “How long can you keep this up?”

“As long as the demand is needed. We can keep production lines open for 30 years.”

Lockheed Martin’s Camden, Arkansas facility produces HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) and GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems). / Photo credit: Lockheed Martin

The plant currently produces about 7,500 rockets a year, according to Frank St. John, Lockheed Martin’s chief operating officer. Martin asked him, “You heard the man from the Pentagon; he said they will likely double production. Can you double the production?”

“Absolutely,” said St. John. “We have the capacity to produce 10,000 rockets a year. That’s one rocket every 10 minutes if you do the math. We’re also doing similar analysis to bring that up to 12,000 or 14,000 rockets a year.”

“How fast can you do it?”

“I would say in the order of 18 to 24 months to make any significant changes to production levels.”

The nose cone carries a satellite guidance system that gives the missile its sniper-like accuracy. But what impresses LaPlante most about HIMARS is not the sophistication of its technology, but the simplicity of its application. “There are only three operators, probably 18-20 years old, and the system works,” he said. “And they can use it effectively within a week. That is just as important to me as its accuracy. It is reliable and can be done by 18-year-old Ukrainians.”

To see how HIMARS operates on the ground, Martin went to the US Army’s training ground in Yakima, Washington, where they use the same tactics taught to the Ukrainians.

At a “hiding place” the HIMARS crew tries to hide from enemy surveillance. As soon as the HIMARS moves to its firing position from here, it can be spotted and attacked, and the clock will start ticking.

The HIMARS launcher has a top speed of 55 mph, but off-road in the high desert it’s closer to 35. Once out in the open, it has about five to seven minutes to find its firing position and train rockets on the target and fire – one missile every few seconds.

Martin asked a HIMARS crew chief, Staff Sergeant Cami White, “How are you guys?”

“We did well!” She answered.

“What does that mean, ‘good’?”

“Whenever we get a ‘fire when ready’, it’s as fast as you can fire it. I think that made our time around three minutes.”

“Three minutes from the time you received the mission to the time the missiles took off?”

“Yes indeed.”

A HIMARS fires at the US Army’s Yakima Training Center in Washington. / Photo credit: CBS News

When the HIMARS fires, the missile’s exhaust reveals its position, so it needs to get out quickly before the enemy can strike back.

“How long do you have to go out?” asked Martin.

“Oh, asap,” White said. “About a minute.”

It’s called “Shoot and Scoot” and the Ukrainians are now doing it in their counteroffensive against the Russian forces occupying Kherson, using the 16 US-provided HIMARS

“Sixteen just doesn’t sound like much,” Martin said.

“It’s nowhere near what I think Ukraine could use,” Hodges said. “I mean look at the effect they had at 16. Imagine if they had three or four times as many.”

For more information:

Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges (Association of the Army)Dr. William A. LaPlante, Undersecretary for Procurement and Conservation HIMARS: Lockheed Martin

Story produced by Mary Walsh. Publisher: Remington Body.