Ukrainian forces from the 54th Mechanized Brigade recently delivered a devastating blow to Russian troops by targeting a training ground with two GMLRS rockets.
Russia Suffered Losses
This strike, which highlights the capabilities of U.S.-supplied weaponry, resulted in significant Russian casualties, according to Tech..
The Ukrainians effectively employed M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS systems to destroy Russian logistics and frontline training points.
In a video documenting the attack, two GMLRS rockets can be seen exploding mid-air, indicating the use of M30A1 rockets equipped with Alternative Warheads.
These warheads are designed to disperse a lethal shower of tungsten balls and shrapnel over a wide area, making them highly effective against concentrated forces.
The tungsten fragments from these rockets can penetrate body armor, leaving underground bunkers or armored vehicles as the only safe spots during such an assault.
Given the extensive coverage of the blast area, it is clear that Russian forces suffered significant losses in this attack.
Remain Dagerous for Decades
The M30A1 rockets were developed as a modern replacement for the older M26 rockets, which used controversial cluster munitions containing DPICM bomblets.
While effective in area attacks, cluster munitions pose long-term risks due to unexploded ordnance that can remain dangerous for decades.
In contrast, the M30A1 rockets, in production since 2015, achieve the same area effect without leaving unexploded remnants. They accomplish this through a payload of 182,000 tungsten balls, released about 10 meters above the ground.
These projectiles have a destructive force comparable to steel-core bullets fired from an AKM or AK-74 rifle.
Capable of reaching targets up to 80 km away, the M30A1 rockets are guided by a combination of satellite and inertial navigation systems. Although effective, the system's reliance on GPS makes it vulnerable to signal jamming.
