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Holy Smokes! Is this an ATACMS missile in Berdyansk? [1]

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Date: 2023-10-17  

Reports this morning that Ukraine has attacked Russian air bases in Berdyansk and Luhansk for the first time. The missiles apparently arrived secretly over the last few days.



These are the kind of missiles with accuracy such that, if one were aimed at Yankee stadium, don’t stand on second base. They have longer range than almost anything Ukraine has — at least with similar accuracy. ATACMS missiles are basically ballistic, meaning that they fly on a high trajectory at very high speed. It is my belief, however, that ATACMS can alter their trajectory to disguise the target until the last few seconds before impact. The change of trajectory also makes them pretty nearly impossible to intercept. Someone please correct me if I am wrong about that.



UPDATE: Zelenskyy has confirmed the use of ATACMS last night.



SECOND UPDATE: Commenter 1BQ, below, pointed out that the version of ATACMS being supplied to Ukraine is the shorter range version (about 180km). Ukraine does not have the 300km version. My mistake on that. I knew better but got all excited when I saw that they had been used, and without warning the Russians that they were in theater. The text quoted by 1BQ says that nine helicopters were hit. That’s one heck of an effective attack.



Only cluster munitions are being provided. These are highly effective against groups of equipment (e.g. helicopters) and soldiers. They will not destroy bridges or other infrastructure. The airfields and air defenses in Crimea are, however, at risk. Personally, I very much doubt that the vaunted billion dollar air defense system of the Russians has any defense against such a weapon.



This isn’t a game changer, but it makes a Big Difference.

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