Ukrainian strikes on Crimea intensify with advanced U.S. Missiles
30 April 2024 17:21
Ukrainians carried out further attacks with MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles on Russian airports in Crimea, targeting once more the airport in Dzhankoi and also the one near Sevastopol, in Simferopol.
In the early hours of 29 April 2024, Ukrainians initiated another series of strikes on Russian airfields in Crimea. Russian reports suggest that around 15 MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions were fired from near Beryslav in the Kherson region.
Although Dzhankoi airport is accessible by older M39 missile models, the Simferopol airport, situated approximately 200 kilometres away, indicates the use of missiles from the latest American shipment boasting a range of about 300 kilometres.
A video clip from near the Dzhankoi airport has been shared, capturing the impact in that area, where a 'red sky' phenomenon was visible, a scene reminiscent of earlier assaults.
The MGM-140 ATACMS - a formidable opponent to the Russian S-400 Triumf systems
Details on the cluster munitions reveal that the Ukrainians employed both M39 and M31A1 missile types. Both versions dispense M74 APAM bomblets, spherical objects about 6 cm in diameter and weighing around 0.6 kilograms each. These bomblets have a tungsten shell containing explosive and incendiary materials.
Upon contact with the ground, the bomblets explode, releasing lethal shrapnel from the tungsten casing capable of breaching bulletproof vests, aircraft fuselages, and light armour. The explosion also disperses an incendiary material akin to thermite, capable of igniting fires and melting through armour.
The M39 missiles, which range approximately 165 kilometres, employ basic inertial navigation and can deliver up to 950 M74 APAM bomblets. This broad impact area compensates for their lesser accuracy. On the other hand, the M31A1 variant, with an extended range of up to 300 kilometres and a smaller payload of 300 bomblets, includes satellite navigation for enhanced impact precision, aiming to maintain effectiveness despite the reduced load.
However, it's important to note that the Russians have recently become adept at GPS signal jamming, diminishing the strike accuracy. Nevertheless, given the substantial destructive capacity, minor deviations, say a few metres, are not as consequential as with the less potent GLSDB missiles. The Ukrainians aim to incapacitate as many Russian aircraft and medium-range air defence systems, like the S-400 Triumf, as they can. Yet, the outcomes of this offensive remain to be seen.
