Ukraine's HIMARS Crews Adapt to Drone-Filled Skies, Keep Striking Deep
Ukrainian HIMARS crews in the Dnipropetrovsk region describe how the launchers remain vital, using speed and precision to strike targets beyond drone range.
In the fields of eastern Ukraine, the roar of a HIMARS launcher cutting through sunflower crops has become a familiar sound. But the crew of the 148th Separate Artillery Zhytomyr Brigade knows the sky is never truly clear. Russian reconnaissance drones lurk overhead, forcing the team to constantly adapt.
During a recent operation, the launcher braked mid-run and vanished into concealment after word came that a drone was nearby. The launch was paused until the sky cleared. It's a routine that has become standard for crews operating these US-made systems.
Despite the rise of drones in modern warfare, the HIMARS remains a critical asset. Unlike FPV drones, which can be limited by range and speed, the truck-mounted launcher can fire GPS-guided missiles at targets up to 80 kilometers away. "When the drone cannot fly 20 to 30 kilometers deep into the enemy, our missile flies in," said a crew member using the call sign Hunter.
Hunter, who trained with NATO forces in Germany, described the system's accuracy as "100%." The crew operates in the Oleksandrivka sector, where the front lines meet at the junction of the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. This area has seen active assault operations for six consecutive months, with Ukrainian airborne troops holding the tactical initiative.
The strategy is simple: emerge from cover, fire, and relocate quickly to avoid counter-battery fire. This "shoot and scoot" method allows the crew to launch one to three strikes daily, sometimes firing up to six rockets in a single outing. Each launch is aimed at high-value targets like drone control points and artillery systems.
Serhii Kolysnychenko, a press officer for the brigade, dismissed the idea that drones have made artillery obsolete. "The guys at HIMARS work 25/8," he said, noting that while missile supplies are adequate, more would mean more destroyed targets.
Since their arrival in Ukraine in June 2022, HIMARS launchers have been a game-changer. "They changed the course of the war, it was tangible," Hunter said. "Now they continue to do so because every departure of the vehicle is an effective hit and destruction of the enemy."