For the first time, Russia has admitted to a missile assault from Ukraine using six ATACMS missiles. While its air defense intercepted five missiles, one struck an industrial area. But what exactly is this ATACMS causing Russia such anger that it threatens nuclear war and the onset of World War III?
The complete designation of ATACMS is MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, a supersonic tactical ballistic missile manufactured by the United States. This missile, 13 feet long, operates on solid propellant with a diameter of 24 inches and can reach a range of 300 km. It can be launched from two types of platforms.
Source: aajtak
Deployed by 10 Nations
This missile can be fired from the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Nations including the United States, Australia, South Korea, Morocco, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates actively use this missile system.
11 Variants Available
Prior to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, this missile was used in the Gulf and Iraq wars. Ukraine possesses several batteries of the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), typically equipped with six missiles per launcher. Eleven variants of the ATACMS exist, employed in both land and sea warfare.
The missile weighs 1670 kg and can ascend to a maximum height of 50 km, speeding towards its target at 3704 km/h. It features a warhead capable of high-fragmentation and penetration.
