U.S. Altered Himars Rocket Launchers to Keep Ukraine From Firing Missiles Into Russia

[Temeret]

Source: Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON—The U.S. secretly modified the advanced Himars rocket launchers it gave Ukraine so they can’t be used to fire long-range missiles into Russia, U.S. officials said, a precaution the Biden administration says is necessary to reduce the risk of a wider war with Moscow.

The U.S. since June has supplied Ukrainian forces with 20 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launchers, or Himars, and a large inventory of satellite-guided rockets with a range of almost 50 miles. Those rockets, known as the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, have been used to strike Russian ammunition depots, logistics supplies and command centers on Ukrainian territory.

But the Himars launchers have a unique feature intended to prevent them from becoming even more potent battlefield systems. U.S. officials say the Pentagon has modified the launchers so they can’t fire long-range missiles, including the U.S.’s Army Tactical Missile System rockets, or ATACMS, which have a range of nearly 200 miles.

The previously undisclosed modifications show the lengths the Biden administration has gone to balance its support for Ukraine’s forces against the risk of escalation with Moscow. They also reflect apprehensions among administration officials that their Ukrainian partner might stop keeping its promise not to strike Russian territory with U.S.-provided weapons.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-altered-himars-rocket-launchers-to-keep-ukraine-from-firing-missiles-into-russia-11670214338?mod=mhp

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Doesn’t Russia launch missiles into Ukraine?

[Lonestarblue]

1. Terrible move in my opinion. It's okay for Russia to bomb the hell out of Ukraine, but Ukraine

isn’t allowed to touch an inch of Russian territory, forcing them to fight with weapons that are less than they need to get Russia the hell out of their country. If a few Russian cities were bombed with apartment buildings, schools, and hospitals destroyed, Putin’s war might not be so popular at home. If Ukraine was behind the attack on the military bases 150 miles from Moscow, good for them. May they spread those attacks straight to the Kremlin and all around Moscow.

[Polybius]

6. The article didn't say that they weren't allowed

Just that they wouldn't be able to do it with US supplied equipment.

[EarlG]

15. I don't think it works like that though

Ukraine are the defenders here -- Russia has invaded their territory. Attacking Russian targets in Russia -- especially if you're suggesting bombing apartment buildings, schools, and hospitals -- which would presumably be war crimes -- then you're much more likely to galvanize the Russian population against Ukraine and prolong the war. I'm not sure that there are many, if any, examples in history where bombing civilians has caused them to drop support for their own government and side with the nation which is bombing them.

The point is that what Russia is doing is evil and wrong and the Ukrainians are simply defending their own territory. That's why Russia is currently an international pariah and Ukraine is viewed as the "good guys" who will continue to receive solid support from most of the world's governments. That all changes if Ukraine starts bombing Russian civilians inside Russia. Not only would that be morally wrong, it would increase Russian support for the war -- "We have to get those bastards who are bombing us!" -- while simultaneously costing Ukraine international support, putting them in more danger than they already are.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. ...not to mention Russia's avowed policy of using nuclear weapons to defend Russian territory.

In relation to recently seized Ukrainian land, that is just a threat.

But, that threat becomes likely if Ukraine starts overtly taking out civilian targets across their border.

[2live is 2fly]

26. Gee we better not upset the Russians then huh? The Russians that have been and continue

raping & torturing children and old people and trying to make them freeze to death. The only way to deal with Putin is to stand up to him! Putin will not quit, he must be stopped and eventually he will be. Until that time however he has to feel he's in a real God damnd fight. (In my opinion)

[llashram]

2. Ukrainians

In my book, Ukrainians have every right to destroy the Russian military that is killing babies and children, reducing their country's infrastructure to rubble and threatening nuclear poisoning or tactical nukes. Putin is a monster murdering in large numbers every day Ukrainians.

[judesedit]

9. Agreed. But escalation may prod Putin to use nuclear weapons imo

which Ukrain does not have. Putin's nuts and not long for this world. He's thinking about his legacy.

[peppertree]

12. +1

Sometimes you only have a least bad option.

Now, if God wants to do humanity a solid favor and give Vlad the Invader a nice heart attack...

[llashram]

30. yeah, I know

Putin is as mentally ill as his BFF here in the states. And I think Putin is all the more dangerous because he ran the old KGB. Unlike his dimwit BFF here.

Yet with all the death and destruction in Ukraine, I just wish they could do the same to Moscow. You are terribly right about escalation.

[Duppers]

29. Yes 👍

[Faux pas]

3. ...

[Polybius]

4. "Doesn't Russia launch missiles into Ukraine?"

Yes, but they don't launch them into America. Ukraine launching them into Russia with American supplied equipment isn't the same thing, since there's a middle man involved. I trust Biden on this one. Ukraine can launch into Russia all they want...just not with our stuff.

[Temeret]

8. valid point. JFK used to do things like that.

that on first sight appeared to be weak, but aimed at not starting a catastrophe. and leaving open the door for negotiations.

[stopdiggin]

24. absolutely correct.

If I'm supplying the weaponry - I believe I have some right to negotiate how they are to be used.

(not you can argue that it is a mistake to lay down these conditions - but then the opponents an come back to say we are under no obligated to provide weapons, particular if they are to be used against our interests and wishes.)

[XorXor]

5. So those ATACMS that Ukraine got off ebay are useless?

Does this mean they are worried that US allies with those missiles might discreetly send them to Ukraine?

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Hopefully someone will step up to reverse engineer the HIMARS so they can hit Russia. Nt

[Richard D]

10. Ukraine is rather famous for . . .

. . . excellent hackers, no?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

11. They are contractually obligated with the US to not do so with US-supplied launchers

So, I wouldn't be hoping for that kind of scheme, myself.

However, if they can get weapons from OTHERS with which to do so, well ... not too much we can do about that, right?

[stopdiggin]

25. also correct.

and, not to be too big a fan boy - but I think Biden has done an absolutely masterful job of statesmanship here. (and gotten far too little credit for it) Of absolutely facing down Putin - cloaking him in the pariah's weeds he deserves - while providing a staunch united center around which our allies, and much of the rest of the world can rally, oppose, and extract penalty. And at the same time threading the needle as far as not widening the conflict, which is also of primary importance and concern. I think the rational vote goes towards not trying to turn this into a Russia-NATO conflict. But, maybe that's just me and Joe.

But, you're perfectly right - if we should happen to turn a corner somewhere where Ukraine is pounding the crap out of Russian targets with things they've gotten their hands on themselves ... I don't think too many people, self included, are going to shedding big tears for the bear.

[XorXor]

16. They'd need the missiles too...

Unless this was poor reporting/bad information, and what was really limited was the ability for them to target anything outside of a predefined area. Which would actually make more sense, right? I mean, if they drive the HIRMARS up to the border of Russia, then they can easily hit inside Russia with the GMLRS rockets. No ATACMS needed. ¯\_( ツ )_/¯

[mitch96]

21. +1

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Such BS. Defending oneself but don't attack?? They have suffered enough with this war. This just

ties their hands and hampers their ability to win.

[onecaliberal]

14. So it's okay for Russia to commit genocide against Ukrainians.

[cstanleytech]

19. No one said that. It's simply a case of the US not wanting to give Russia any legitimacy in

claiming that the US is providing aid meant for offensive attacks into Russia rather than defensive ones focused on protecting Ukrainian sovereignty.

[IronLionZion]

17. When they go low, we go high

I don't like it but I understand Biden's reasons here.

[cstanleytech]

18. Makes sense as Russia cannot legitimately claim the United States of responsibility for attacks deep

into Russia.

[mitch96]

22. I wonder how that's gonna work if Ukraine gets the Boeing GLSDB rocket system..

100 mile/161km range.
m
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ground-launched-small-diameter-bomb-would-double-ukraines-precision-strike-range

[bluestarone]

23. I'm 1000% in support of Ukraine.

I'm not happy about this story. BUT i guess it's only to stop a nuclear war. I'm liking the story of possible DRONE attacks. If that's the way to get Russia, so be it!

[Kennah]

27. And it appears Ukraine is hitting targets in Ryazan, over 200 miles into Russia

[Grins]

28. Why did the Reich-wing Wall St. Journal publish this? NM