Weapons & Military Systems in the Ukraine War

The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is widely considered the most strategically impactful Western weapon. HIMARS precision strikes on Russian ammunition depots and command posts enabled the Kharkiv and Kherson counteroffensives in 2022. Patriot air defense systems have also proven invaluable, intercepting hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

The FGM-148 Javelin is a US-made man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile with a top-attack mode targeting the thin roof armor of tanks. Ukraine received thousands of Javelins before and during the invasion. They helped blunt Russia's initial armored offensive on Kyiv in February–March 2022.

Russia's key weapons include: Shahed-136 loitering munitions (8,500+ launched), Kalibr cruise missiles, Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Lancet anti-vehicle drones, and Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAVs. Russia has also fired S-300 and S-400 air defense missiles in a surface-to-surface ground attack role.

Yes. Ukraine developed the R-360 Neptune anti-ship missile (which sank the Moskva cruiser in April 2022), domestically produced FPV and strike drones (Bober/Beaver, Liutiy), Magura V5 naval drones, and the Palianytsia air-launched missile. Ukraine's FPV drone production now exceeds one million units annually.

MGM-140 ATACMS is a US Army tactical missile with 165–300 km range. The US initially withheld it citing escalation concerns. Ukraine received shorter-range versions in October 2023, then longer-range variants in 2024. Ukraine used ATACMS against Russian airfields and command posts in occupied territory, resulting in significant equipment losses for Russia.