Summary: After multiple false claims, Russia confirmed the destruction of a U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS launcher in Ukraine by an Iskander missile near Nykanorivka, Donetsk Oblast. The HIMARS, capable of delivering precision strikes with its rockets, has significantly impacted Russian forces, targeting troops, artillery, and air-defense sites. Its loss, among 39 provided to Ukraine, raises questions about how it was detected and targeted, highlighting the effectiveness of Russian intelligence. Despite this, the loss is unlikely to alter the war's course significantly, with concerns over the future availability of ammunition for remaining HIMARS units amid U.S. legislative debates on continued support for Ukraine.

HIMARS: The Game-Changing Weapon in Ukraine and Russia's Countermeasures

The Kremlin has claimed multiple times that it destroyed a U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS launcher in Ukraine. Until this week, every such claim was a falsehood. However, on Wednesday, a Ukrainian HIMARS was targeted and destroyed, probably by a single Iskander missile.

Video of the strike and its fiery aftermath has circulated on X. According to geolocation data, it occurred near the village of Nykanorivka in the Donetsk Oblast, about 25 to 30 miles west of the current frontlines.

The HIMARS is considered a high-value target, and for good reason. 

"Three times in the span of just a week last month, HIMARS targeted Russian troops lining up for inspection within range of the launchers' six 57-mile M30/31 rockets, each of which scatters 182,000 tungsten ball like giant shotgun shells," David Axe wrote for Forbes. "The quick strikes on parades killed around a hundred Russian soldiers plus many of their officers. Besides blasting troop formations, HIMARS also targets Russian artillery, headquarters and supply depots."

HIMARS has also been used to strike Russian air bases and air-defense sites.

The M142 HIMARS – The Weapon Russia Hates

The HIMARS was developed to carry a single launch pod containing either six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)/MLRS rockets or one Army Tactical Missile System missile. It is a "shoot and scoot" platform, meaning that it can arrive at a designated launch site, shoot its payload, and roll out before the enemy can return fire.

Depending on the armament, the U.S.-made HIMARS, which is produced by defense giant Lockheed Martin, has a range of 5.6 miles to upward of 300 miles. A trained crew can reload the weapon within as little as four to five minutes, assisted by an integrated crane. Reload rockets are carried by an escorting MTVR MK37 resupply vehicle. Current doctrine calls for the pods with rockets to be unloaded in various locations along a predefined route.

How Was HIMARS Targeted?

The loss of a single HIMARS won't alter the course of the war, as Ukraine was provided with 39 of the launchers.

But questions are already being asked about how Russian forces successfully targeted a HIMARS launcher. The mobile launcher typically fires and then travels to a new location to reload – a practice that helps it avoid counter-battery fire. 

The loss has given Moscow another propaganda coup, coming just days after the destruction of a third U.S.-supplied M1 Abrams main battle tank.

Roman Kostenko, the secretary of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, has already called for an investigation.

"It takes a lot of time to aim an Iskander like that... Let the experts investigate why this happened – of course, the HIMARS was firing from the rear, and we see that the enemy's intelligence is working to detect HIMARS now," Kostenko told Ukrainian media.

However, Russia's chances of successfully targeting another HIMARS may be limited. Not only will the Ukrainians be more cautious when employing the launchers, but the supply of ammunition for the platform has been stalled as U.S. lawmakers argue over continued support for Ukraine. As Axe also reported, Ukraine will likely run out of ordnance for the HIMARS before Russia can destroy all of the launchers.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].