MGM-140 ATACMS
WesternArmy Tactical Missile System
The MGM-140 ATACMS is an American short-range ballistic missile fired from the M270 MLRS or M142 HIMARS launcher. Ukraine requested ATACMS throughout 2022–2023, and the US began secretly supplying them in October 2023. Their range of 165–300 km allowed Ukraine to strike Russian air bases, logistics hubs, and equipment concentrations far behind front lines.
Primary Role
Strike deep targets — airfields, logistics depots, port facilities, command centers
First documented use in Ukraine: 2023-10-17
Specifications
| Range (M39) | 165 km |
| Range (Block IA) | 300 km |
| Speed | Mach 3+ |
| Warhead | Unitary or cluster submunitions |
| Guidance | GPS/INS |
| Accuracy (CEP) | <9 m |
| Country | United States |
✓ Strengths
- •Ballistic trajectory — very hard to intercept even by S-400
- •Extreme precision with GPS guidance
- •Backward compatible with existing HIMARS/MLRS launchers
- •300 km range enables deep strikes into occupied territory and Russia
⚠ Limitations
- •Small inventory — limited number supplied to Ukraine
- •Cost (~$1.5M per missile) limits mass use
- •GPS jamming may reduce accuracy near high-priority targets
Notable Use
Ukraine's first ATACMS strike on October 17, 2023 destroyed 9 Russian helicopters at Berdyansk airfield. Later strikes hit Luhansk airfield and Dzhankoi in Crimea, destroying S-400 air defense systems.
Ukraine War Context
The US initially withheld ATACMS over escalation concerns. Ukraine was authorized to use ATACMS against targets within Russia in late 2024, enabling strikes on Kursk Oblast during the incursion and against Russian logistics in Voronezh Oblast.