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Ukraine strikes Russian Rostov airbase with 6 ATACMS missiles
In a significant escalation, Russia has confirmed that its military airfield in Taganrog, located in the Rostov region, was hit by a missile strike on Wednesday morning. Six ATACMS missiles, supplied by the United States, were reportedly launched in a precise attack on the airfield.
Russian authorities stated that all six missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, but the debris from the intercepted warheads still caused injuries among personnel on the ground.
According to the Ministry of Defense, fragments from the downed missiles inflicted minor damage on two buildings in the technical zone of the airfield and three military vehicles. In addition, civilian cars parked near the site were damaged by shrapnel.
Russian sources confirmed that the attack resulted in casualties, specifically among the personnel stationed in the barracks, which were believed to be the primary target.
Local reports from Taganrog indicate that the explosions began just after 4:00 a.m. local time. Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar reported multiple blasts, with eyewitnesses claiming that air defense systems were activated during the attack.
These explosions, which were described as intense, left behind damage to industrial infrastructure. A local industrial facility was hit, resulting in the destruction of at least 14 vehicles. However, no casualties were reported from the industrial site itself.
Among the other damaged facilities was a boiler room located on Tsiolkovsky Street, which left 27 residential buildings without heating for several hours. Heat services were restored later in the day.
The Russian Telegram channel, CHEKA-OGPU, citing local sources, claimed that the airfield was the primary target of the attack. It was also suggested that this was part of a broader strategy to disrupt Russian military operations in the region, underscoring the growing sophistication of Ukraine’s missile capabilities.
This comes in the wake of Russia’s November launch of the “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile against Dnipro, a retaliatory response to Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles in Bryansk.
With no sign of de-escalation, this latest exchange reflects the relentless nature of the ongoing war, with both sides using advanced weapons to hit strategic targets deep inside enemy territory.
Deployed from the Army’s Multiple Launch Rocket System [MLRS] launchers, ATACMS is capable of delivering a range of munitions, including both conventional and, in its earlier versions, nuclear payloads.
With an operational range that varies from 165 miles to over 300 miles depending on the model, ATACMS can engage targets far beyond the reach of traditional artillery or close-air support.
This capability has proven invaluable in recent conflicts where rapid, pinpoint strikes can tilt the balance of power on the battlefield.
The first variant of the ATACMS, the MGM-140, was introduced in the early 1990s, with a range of 165 miles and equipped with a unitary warhead. This version was designed to counter critical targets with precision, but it quickly became clear that additional capabilities were needed to deal with larger concentrations of enemy forces.
As the missile system matured, further upgrades extended the range and precision of ATACMS. The MGM-168, a later model, can strike targets at up to 186 miles, with a greatly improved guidance system incorporating both GPS and inertial navigation technology.
This allowed for much greater precision and minimized the risk of collateral damage. The GPS-enhanced guidance system ensures that the missile hits its target with an accuracy of a few meters, which is crucial when targeting high-value or time-sensitive assets like mobile missile launchers or leadership compounds.
Perhaps the most significant upgrade to the ATACMS program was the development of the Extended Range [ER] variant, which can strike targets up to 310 miles away. The ATACMS ER, also known as Block 1A, features advanced guidance enhancements and improved reliability.
Another key upgrade, the Block 1A version, focuses on reducing collateral damage while maintaining the missile’s lethality. This version uses precision GPS guidance and offers increased flexibility in terms of payload options, including both unitary warheads and submunitions.
Its versatility allows it to adapt to a range of mission requirements, whether it’s neutralizing artillery positions or destroying hardened bunkers. The ability to tailor payloads for specific targets makes ATACMS one of the most adaptable weapons in the U.S. military’s arsenal.
The system’s strategic importance has only grown in modern conflicts, as adversaries increasingly rely on dispersed, mobile assets that conventional forces struggle to engage. ATACMS offers a significant counter to these tactics by providing the U.S. Army with the ability to strike with precision at targets well beyond the reach of other systems.
ATACMS has already seen operational use in multiple conflicts, from the Gulf War to the Iraq War, where its accuracy and long-range capabilities proved vital in crippling enemy forces early in the conflict. Its ability to rapidly deliver devastating firepower makes it a force multiplier, complementing other strike platforms like fighter jets, drones, and artillery.
This capability, coupled with the missile’s adaptability in terms of payload, ensures that ATACMS remains relevant in future operations against peer or near-peer competitors.
The future of the ATACMS system looks bright as well, with continuous upgrades aimed at improving range, accuracy, and warhead options. As the U.S. military pivots to meet emerging threats, particularly from near-peer adversaries like China and Russia, systems like ATACMS will play a crucial role in long-range fires and precision strike operations.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On February 21, 2022, Russia stated that its border facility was attacked by Ukrainian forces, resulting in the deaths of five Ukrainian fighters. However, Ukraine quickly dismissed these allegations, labeling them as ‘false flags’.
In a notable move on the same day, Russia announced it officially recognized the self-proclaimed areas of DPR and LPR. Interestingly, according to Russian President Putin, this recognition covered all the Ukrainian regions. Following this declaration, Putin sent a battalion of Russia’s military forces, tanks included, into these areas.
BulgarianMilitary.