In recent months, Russia has increasingly disrupted US-made mobile rocket systems in Ukraine by using electronic jammers to interfere with their GPS-guided targeting systems, leading to rockets missing their targets. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has played a crucial role in Ukraine's ongoing conflict and was once considered a game-changer in the region. However, as Russian jamming efforts intensify, the effectiveness of the HIMARS system has diminished.
US and Ukrainian officials have been working together to devise various strategies to maintain the effectiveness of the HIMARS system by tweaking its software. This has turned into a constant back-and-forth struggle, as both sides continue to develop new countermeasures to address the other's tactics.
With a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive expected to begin soon, maintaining the effectiveness of the HIMARS system has become even more critical. The HIMARS system is essential for making effective deep strikes and driving out Russian forces entrenched in the region for over a year.
The US has provided Ukraine with 18 HIMARS systems, with 20 more expected to be sent. Other NATO allies have also donated 10 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. The Biden administration has regularly announced hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine, often including HIMARS munitions as a top item.
US assistance also extends to helping Ukraine locate and destroy Russian jammers. GPS jamming can affect other "smart" US munitions, such as Excalibur artillery shells and JDAM air-dropped bombs. As there are limited ways to modify HIMARS and their rockets, the focus has shifted towards identifying and destroying Russian jammers.
However, electronic warfare goes both ways. Russian jamming can also have negative consequences for their forces, impacting their communication and operation abilities. Despite this, the HIMARS systems have increasingly missed targets in recent times, according to Ukrainian sources briefed by drone operators on the frontlines.
The HIMARS system has been Ukraine's longest-range rocket system, allowing troops to fire rockets at Russian positions up to 50 miles away with an accuracy of around 10 feet. These rockets have been instrumental in destroying logistics hubs, ammunition depots, command posts, and communication nodes, among other targets.
With Russia's increasing use of electronic warfare, US and Ukrainian officials are constantly adjusting their strategies to keep their countermeasures effective. As Russian forces remain largely stalled on the Ukrainian frontlines, they have been employing jamming systems more frequently to counteract the HIMARS systems.
