Latest news with #Himars
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump could withdraw troops from Europe. His army has other ideas
6am please Vid link here: As a handful of Fox Battery US Marines fired up their Himars alongside Royal Horse Artillery Gunners loading up their MLRS, they knew they were about to make defence history. For the first time, British and American troops were to use their signature multiple rocket launch systems simultaneously. It would also be the first time either would be fired on the strategic Swedish island of Gotland, less than 200 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad and its Baltic fleet. Five loud thuds boomed across the firing range as the dummy rockets streaked through the early morning sky before disappearing from sight somewhere in the Baltic Sea: a successful launch. These joint US-European military exercises are being held against the backdrop of a souring in relationships between the US and its Nato allies since Donald Trump became president again in January. But when asked what he thinks of his commander-in-chief this week having a two-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin, the leader of the country that is the unspoken enemy at the heart of all of these military exercises, American Capt Justin Miller shrugs. 'Regardless of what's going on, we're out here, we're training with Nato,' he says. 'We're in Sweden at the moment, Norway yesterday and we're gonna go to Finland in a few days. And we're gonna continue to do so until told otherwise.' '[The Nato alliance] still feels strong to me.' Mr Trump has repeatedly accused Europe of riding on the US's coattails in terms of defence spending and has praised Russian leader Putin rather than punishing him for invading Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference in February, JD Vance, the US vice-president, made headlines by saying the greatest threat facing the continent was not from Russia but 'from within', adding that Europe needed to 'step up' and provide for its own defence. Shortly afterwards, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, was revealed to have described Europe as 'pathetic' freeloaders in a leaked Signal chat. He has also warned American military presence in Europe is not 'forever.' The slew of unprecedented criticism has led to speculation that Europe can no longer rely on the US to protect it from Russia and that the Nato alliance is on its last legs. But the political schisms do not appear to have filtered through to the US military, which has 84,000 service members posted in more than 40 bases across the Continent. 'The political leaders are gonna do their thing, I will say that from what I've seen, we haven't changed at all,' explains Lt Col Zach Leuthardt, a public affairs officer for the US Marines in Europe and Africa. 'It's hard to tell at our level that the things that are going on at the political level are happening. It doesn't affect us. We are committed to the alliance.' The drills on Gotland are part of the Swift Response phase of the US's annual Defender series - officially known as the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for Nato Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness exercise. Over the next six weeks, some 12,000 US troops – including 5,000 flying over from the States – will buddy up with 13,000 European and Nato ally soldiers to practise everything from live firing and river crossings to resupplying a field hospital with blood via drones. It's a huge undertaking that is designed to showcase US-European cohesion and interoperability – defence ministry jargon for how well different countries' armies can work together. Lt Col Leuthardt has been based in the US European Command's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, since last July. He said the election of Mr Trump last November hasn't affected anything in his work. 'Nothing on our schedule from the time I've got here has changed. We haven't scaled it down. Nobody's gone home. 'We've got a fresh batch of new people coming in this summer to take on those roles and continue the planning. So from my operational and tactical level, nothing's really changed for us.' The fact that live fire drills are being held on Sweden's Gotland island for the first time is telling given its strategic importance in protecting the Baltics from Moscow. 'It's a very good sign from the US defence forces that they want to do this security signal together with us towards the Russians,' said Peter Hulqvist, Sweden's former defence minister from 2014-22 and now chair of the Defence Committee. 'It continues the cooperation that we built up with the United States some years before.' The drill also involved British 16th Air Assault Brigade soldiers parachuted in and fought off the 'enemy' (local Swedish troops) to secure a tactical landing zone for the Himars and MLRS. Watching the UK's elite paras jump out of an A400 plane and float gently down to the green field below, Lt Col Leuthardt had glowing words of praise for the US's European partners – especially the British. 'It's like working with other Americans,' he says. 'It's super simple and they're super-professional and we've had a blast. My eyes are open to how well this alliance works together. 'We have the same values: democracy and defence of our nations. It's like hanging out with cousins.' Back at the Tofta firing range, after the historic joint missile launch, US Marines Staff Sgt Caleb Thayer smiles proudly at its success. ' A little bit of shock and awe,' he says. 'We just got off the bird [plane] probably 45 minutes ago. So we were just shooting from the hip and it all went to plan. And that's all we can ask for: good co-operation and communication and everybody gets along, I guess. We're super happy to be here.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Mint
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Taiwan's military plans new drone units in preparation for potential China invasion
Taiwan will commission its first-ever army drone units this year and introduce sea drones to its naval forces, part of its efforts to modernize its arsenal with cutting-edge technology to prepare for a potential Chinese invasion, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said in an interview. The steps fit into a shift from a focus on traditional forces to building up its capabilities intended to make China think twice before attacking. Taiwan's marines have already transformed some tank and artillery battalions into drone squads, according to Koo. 'It would be best if China wakes up every day feeling like 'today's just not the day to invade,' " he said. Taiwan is racing to overhaul its military in preparation for what it sees as a potential invasion by China as soon as 2027. China has intensified its military exercises around the island, including by staging simulated blockades that Koo and other Taiwanese officials say could turn without notice into an actual attack—an event that would trigger a global crisis. Taiwan's leadership this week marked the first year in office of President Lai Ching-te, who delivered an anniversary speech on Tuesday that was most notable for its softer tone toward Beijing. 'Taiwan is a peace-loving country," he said. 'We are willing to replace containment with engagement and confrontation with dialogue." The address was restrained compared with a speech in March when he called China a foreign adversary and warned against Chinese infiltration. Beijing has consistently expressed distaste for Lai, who it sees as a staunch supporter of Taiwan independence, and its response to his speech this week was no different. 'This two-faced approach is nothing new, a waste of effort, and doomed to fail," a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said. Koo, a former human-rights lawyer, has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military to prepare for a conflict many see as inevitable, as China continues to press its claim that self-ruled Taiwan is Beijing's territory. He added that support from Japan and the Philippines—which make up part of what is known as the 'first island chain"—is crucial to deterring China, along with assistance from the U.S. 'Such collective deterrence will force China to consider the military difficulty and the high military cost when invading Taiwan," the defense minister said. The army is also adding two more company-sized units to operate U.S.-made Himars rocket systems as they are delivered, aiming to enhance precision-strike capabilities, he said. Taiwan's effort to incorporate drones into its defensive posture, a move inspired by Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, has been complicated by China's dominant role in the production of small drones and the parts needed to assemble them. Taiwan's government has sought to promote the development of a domestic drone industry to eliminate any reliance on supply from China. Wellington Koo has been at the forefront of a project to transform and strengthen Taiwan's military. Taiwan's military plans to buy more than 3,200 drones from domestic companies, mostly small reconnaissance drones, in a five-year period. The island produced roughly 10,000 drones last year, with production expected to grow, according to the Taiwanese government-funded Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. Meanwhile, Taiwan is getting help from the U.S. government to bolster its market size and capability. 'The U.S. has indeed provided strong support in this area because it wants us to have local production capabilities," Koo said. 'This could refer to certain technologies…being transferred to us, allowing local private companies to handle production" that doesn't use Chinese components, he added. Potential areas of U.S.-Taiwan collaboration on drones include AI, supply-chain integration and investment, Raymond Greene, the de facto U.S. ambassador to Taipei, said in a recent interview with Taiwan's state-owned Central News Agency. 'The United States and Taiwan are aligned on the importance of Taiwan ensuring its secure supply of similar asymmetric systems," Greene said in March. 'We are working together to accelerate that process, including through expanding Taiwan's ability to produce critical munitions and drones domestically." Building a drone-equipped army also depends on having the personnel to operate them. Taiwan's military has begun using drones in training and operations, often for reconnaissance. The army opened an academy last year to teach soldiers how to operate them. 'The idea is to use technology instead of manpower and rely on firepower rather than traditional forces," Koo said, offering new details about the drone plans. The decision to establish specialized drone units and introduce sea drones to the navy's amphibious forces is the newest development in Taiwan's shift to asymmetric capability. 'When it comes to firepower, we just can't compete with China in terms of quantity. So we have to figure out how to strike in the most effective way possible," said Cathy Fang, a security and defense industry analyst at DSET, the Taiwanese think tank. 'It's a clear indicator of how asymmetric warfare works." Write to Joyu Wang at
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia's elite drone unit destroying Ukraine's precious Himars launchers
Credit: Russian Ministry of Defence / 'Rubicon' drone unit Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian Himars rocket launcher was destroyed by an elite Russian drone unit just 10km (six miles) from the front line last month. In a grainy video filmed just outside Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk, the US-supplied missile system was seen hurtling along a dirt-laden road as a Russian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) closed in from above. The feed cut out seconds before impact, but separate footage showed an explosion moments later, confirming one of Ukraine's most valuable rocket systems had been destroyed. The attack was reportedly carried out by Rubicon, the Kremlin's elite drone warfare unit that Ukrainian soldiers have come to fear. Previously deployed earlier this year during Russia's brutal campaign to recapture the eastern town of Kursk, Rubicon has now been redirected to hunt Ukraine's most valuable battlefield assets: its US-supplied long-range missiles. There are signs it is succeeding. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has received around 40 vital Himars systems from Washington. The satellite-guided rocket launchers, capable of striking targets with pinpoint accuracy up to 80km away, have played a key role in blunting Russia's advances, allowing Kyiv to pin Russia back by disrupting logistics, command hubs and ammunition depots. Their advantage lies in the fact that they can sit deep behind the front line, out of Russian reach. Because of their importance, it is unusual for a Himars launcher to be placed just 10km from the front line. The one that was destroyed near the war-torn town of Chasiv Yar was therefore probably being used to hit a target deep behind enemy lines. 'Himars have remained an important tactical and operational level system for the Ukrainians, particularly as it can hold Russian targets at risk some distance from the front line, affecting Russian logistics and command and control, as well as combat power,' said Tom Withington, a weapons expert at Rusi, a defence think tank. But, following the latest destruction of the launcher near Chasiv Yar, at least four have now been lost – a small but significant dent in Ukraine's arsenal at a time when US support appears likely to dry up. Donald Trump's administration has given no indication it will resupply Ukraine with new Himars systems, further raising the stakes for Ukraine over its remaining ones. The latest method used to destroy a Himars launcher is especially concerning for Kyiv. Unlike previous losses, which mostly resulted from missile or artillery strikes, the latest attack on one of the systems was reportedly carried out by a first-person view (FPV) drone using a fibre-optic guidance cable – a sophisticated and largely jam-proof design that signals a dangerous shift in the conflict. Traditional FPV drones are vulnerable to Ukraine's electronic warfare systems, which jam incoming frequencies and render them blind mid-flight. But fibre-optic drones are physically tethered to their operators via ultra-thin cables that transmit real-time video and guidance signals. 'Fibre optic cables are basically impossible to jam,' Mr Withington said. 'The cables are very small, in some cases the breadth of a human hair, so that makes them incredibly difficult to detect physically.' Rubicon, established in October 2024 at the personal instruction of Andrei Belousov, Russia's defence minister, has become a test bed for this type of new technology. Its drone pilots now operate in at least seven specialist detachments across eastern Ukraine, carrying out complex, decentralised missions. The unit's tactics are equally modern. During the Kursk offensive, Rubicon drones reportedly struck short segments of road – just 100 to 300 metres long – from multiple angles at once, catching convoys in lethal ambushes. Some drones were embedded in road surfaces, exploding beneath passing vehicles like land mines. Others attacked head-on, targeting the front and rear vehicles to trap the rest in a kill zone. The results were devastating, with the majority of Ukrainian troops pushed out of Kursk after the Rubicon unit destroyed their supply route. In the process, Rubicon is believed to have disabled hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles, including M2 Bradley infantry carriers and heavily armoured MaxxPro trucks, often with fibre optic cable drones. Ukrainian drone operators, unable to jam or outmanoeuvre them, began referring to the airspace above Kursk as the 'road of death'. The redeployment of Rubicon towards high-value weaponry like Himars marks a new and troubling phase for Ukraine. Russia is no longer just harassing Ukraine's supply lines in Kursk – its sights are firmly set on systematically targeting the strategic backbone of Kyiv's long-range strike capability that it has used so effectively. The symbolic significance of these losses is not lost on Ukraine. Himars launchers are more than just tools of war; they are symbols of Western support. Their destruction delivers a psychological blow as much as a military one. For much of 2022 and 2023, the arrival of Himars shifted the balance on the battlefield. Ukraine used them to force Russian withdrawals from key cities, including Kherson, where a strike destroyed a Russian training camp on a beach. But if stockpiles dwindle further and replacements are in doubt, Ukraine could lose a significant battlefield edge. The strike near Chasiv Yar – believed to be the first destruction of a Himars launcher by a fibre optic cable drone – suggests that Russia now has the means to reach even Ukraine's most protected assets. If Kyiv cannot adapt quickly to this new threat, the consequences could be far-reaching. 'Years ago, I spoke to soldiers stationed in Germany during the Cold War. They said there were fields and valleys filled with wire-guided munitions… I wouldn't be surprised if Ukraine starts ending up like that too,' Mr Withington said. 'Until a meaningful counter is developed, the uptake will just continue.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia's elite drone unit destroying Ukraine's precious Himars launchers
Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian Himars rocket launcher was destroyed by an elite Russian drone unit just 10km (six miles) from the front line last month. In a grainy video filmed just outside Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk, the US-supplied missile system was seen hurtling along a dirt-laden road as a Russian UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) closed in from above. The feed cut out seconds before impact, but separate footage showed an explosion moments later, confirming one of Ukraine's most valuable rocket systems had been destroyed. The attack was reportedly carried out by Rubicon, the Kremlin's elite drone warfare unit that Ukrainian soldiers have come to fear. Previously deployed earlier this year during Russia's brutal campaign to recapture the eastern town of Kursk, Rubicon has now been redirected to hunt Ukraine's most valuable battlefield assets: its US-supplied long-range missiles. There are signs it is succeeding. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has received around 40 vital Himars systems from Washington. The satellite-guided rocket launchers, capable of striking targets with pinpoint accuracy up to 80km away, have played a key role in blunting Russia's advances, allowing Kyiv to pin Russia back by disrupting logistics, command hubs and ammunition depots. Their advantage lies in the fact that they can sit deep behind the front line, out of Russian reach. Because of their importance, it is unusual for a Himars launcher to be placed just 10km from the front line. The one that was destroyed near the war-torn town of Chasiv Yar was therefore probably being used to hit a target deep behind enemy lines. 'Himars have remained an important tactical and operational level system for the Ukrainians, particularly as it can hold Russian targets at risk some distance from the front line, affecting Russian logistics and command and control, as well as combat power,' said Tom Withington, a weapons expert at Rusi, a defence think tank. But, following the latest destruction of the launcher near Chasiv Yar, at least four have now been lost – a small but significant dent in Ukraine's arsenal at a time when US support appears likely to dry up. Donald Trump's administration has given no indication it will resupply Ukraine with new Himars systems, further raising the stakes for Ukraine over its remaining ones. The latest method used to destroy a Himars launcher is especially concerning for Kyiv. Unlike previous losses, which mostly resulted from missile or artillery strikes, the latest attack on one of the systems was reportedly carried out by a first-person view (FPV) drone using a fibre-optic guidance cable – a sophisticated and largely jam-proof design that signals a dangerous shift in the conflict. Traditional FPV drones are vulnerable to Ukraine's electronic warfare systems, which jam incoming frequencies and render them blind mid-flight. But fibre-optic drones are physically tethered to their operators via ultra-thin cables that transmit real-time video and guidance signals. 'Fibre optic cables are basically impossible to jam,' Mr Withington said. 'The cables are very small, in some cases the breadth of a human hair, so that makes them incredibly difficult to detect physically.' Rubicon, established in October 2024 at the personal instruction of Andrei Belousov, Russia's defence minister, has become a test bed for this type of new technology. Its drone pilots now operate in at least seven specialist detachments across eastern Ukraine, carrying out complex, decentralised missions. The unit's tactics are equally modern. During the Kursk offensive, Rubicon drones reportedly struck short segments of road – just 100 to 300 metres long – from multiple angles at once, catching convoys in lethal ambushes. Some drones were embedded in road surfaces, exploding beneath passing vehicles like land mines. Others attacked head-on, targeting the front and rear vehicles to trap the rest in a kill zone. The results were devastating, with the majority of Ukrainian troops pushed out of Kursk after the Rubicon unit destroyed their supply route. In the process, Rubicon is believed to have disabled hundreds of Ukrainian vehicles, including M2 Bradley infantry carriers and heavily armoured MaxxPro trucks, often with fibre optic cable drones. Ukrainian drone operators, unable to jam or outmanoeuvre them, began referring to the airspace above Kursk as the 'road of death'. The redeployment of Rubicon towards high-value weaponry like Himars marks a new and troubling phase for Ukraine. Russia is no longer just harassing Ukraine's supply lines in Kursk – its sights are firmly set on systematically targeting the strategic backbone of Kyiv's long-range strike capability that it has used so effectively. The symbolic significance of these losses is not lost on Ukraine. Himars launchers are more than just tools of war; they are symbols of Western support. Their destruction delivers a psychological blow as much as a military one. For much of 2022 and 2023, the arrival of Himars shifted the balance on the battlefield. Ukraine used them to force Russian withdrawals from key cities, including Kherson, where a strike destroyed a Russian training camp on a beach. But if stockpiles dwindle further and replacements are in doubt, Ukraine could lose a significant battlefield edge. The strike near Chasiv Yar – believed to be the first destruction of a Himars launcher by a fibre optic cable drone – suggests that Russia now has the means to reach even Ukraine's most protected assets. If Kyiv cannot adapt quickly to this new threat, the consequences could be far-reaching. 'Years ago, I spoke to soldiers stationed in Germany during the Cold War. They said there were fields and valleys filled with wire-guided munitions… I wouldn't be surprised if Ukraine starts ending up like that too,' Mr Withington said. 'Until a meaningful counter is developed, the uptake will just continue.'
South China Morning Post
13-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan tests its new US-made Himars rocket systems for the first time
Taiwan tested its new high-precision Himars rocket systems for the first time on Monday, a major step in its efforts to reinforce its asymmetric defences against the People's Liberation Army. Advertisement A total of 33 rockets were fired from 11 US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) at Jiupeng military base in the island's southern county of Pingtung, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. The truck-mounted systems – manufactured by Lockheed Martin – are equipped with six multiple launch rockets that have a maximum range of 70km (43½ miles). Each Himars can also carry a single Army Tactical Missile System with a range of up to 300km. Himars has been used by Ukraine against Russian high-value targets, and would be expected to play a crucial role in a conflict with mainland China, which is about 180km from Taiwan's main island. The Himars systems were delivered last year, several years after they were ordered. Photo: EPA-EFE The Himars test was part of the Taiwanese army's annual precision-strike missile drills, where its domestically developed Thunderbolt-2000 rocket launchers were used to counter mock coastal landing strikes, its defence ministry said. Advertisement Taiwanese Defence Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung attended the exercise, along with representatives of the manufacturer, who were on hand to help with technical issues.
