Remaining HIMARS Systems Continue to Threaten Russia
Despite losses, Ukraine’s HIMARS systems still pose a threat as Russian air defenses intercept rockets, bombs, and hundreds of drones, officials report.
Despite heavy losses, Ukraine’s HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems continue to pose a threat to Russian territory, according to military expert Anatoly Matviychuk, a retired special forces colonel.
On May 3, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that air defense systems intercepted four guided aerial bombs along with rockets fired from HIMARS toward Russia. Over the same 24-hour period, at least 740 fixed-wing drones were shot down, the ministry added.
Matviychuk estimates that only a fraction of Ukraine’s originally declared HIMARS arsenal remains-roughly 15–20 percent. In his view, these systems are being conserved for high-impact strikes intended to generate maximum attention and demonstrate continued operational capability.
A day earlier, on May 2, the Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses had destroyed five guided bombs, two U.S.-made HIMARS rockets and 505 Ukrainian drones.