Page 6 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine

fensive in the Donbas [region of Ukraine]. They [ COVER STORY ]
are taking back some towns that the Russians
have taken in the past," the official said. For
example, the Ukrainians are pushing Russian
has a total of 140-plus BTG available to him, with 106 operational forces to the east and to the north of Kharkiv,
in Ukraine. The ones not in Ukraine do not appear to be near the Ukraine, the official said.
periphery of Ukraine, the official noted. Russian troops in the region
will also need to cater for the induction of Harpoon anti-ship mis- "We do believe that the howitzers … are having
siles into the Ukrainian coastal defence network. The Harpoons are an impact, particularly in Kharkiv. Now is that
being supplied to the Ukraine by Denmark with British assistance. the only reason? I don't think we would go
that far to say that, but we do believe that the
systems they're getting — not just the U.S.
Supply Chain systems but the systems from other countries
The U.S. DoD first announced in mid-April that it would ship 18 — are absolutely helping them regain some
howitzers to Ukraine, along with 40,000 artillery shells. This momentum and to take back some territory,"
announcement, was followed a week later, that an additional 72 the official said. Since Ukrainian forces don't
howitzers and 144,000 additional shells would be provided to have M777 artillery in their inventory, the U.S. is
Ukraine. This brings the total number of U.S. supplied howitzers training Ukrainians on the use of these weap-
to 90. 72 tactical vehicles which can be used to tow the howitzers ons in undisclosed areas outside of Ukraine,
are also being provided. the official said.

These additional 72 howitzers would help equip five more Ukrainian The M777 is a 155 mm towed howitzer jointly
artillery battalions. Shipments of these howitzers continue to arrive developed by the U.S. Army and U..S Marine
in Ukraine and as of mid-May, 74 of the 90 artillery pieces had Corps to replace the M198 Howitzer. The M777
already been delivered. The U.S. supplied howitzers are already makes extensive use of titanium making it 3.5
operationally deployed, not only in the Kharkiv area but elsewhere in tonne lighter than the M198. The lightweight
the Donbas. The M777s are a potent addition for the Ukrainian mil- M777 howitzer weighs approximately five tonne
itary on the battlefield providing long-range, indirect fire capability. and its independent suspension, small footprint
At a Pentagon press briefing held on May 16, a senior Defence and lower profile increase strategic deployabil-
Department official said that the 155 mm M777 towed howitzers ity and tactical mobility. The M777 can emplace
supplied by the U.S. and other types supplied by ally and partner and deplace in less than three minutes (each).
nations to Ukraine are having a big impact on the battlefield. "You're It has a rate of fire of four rounds per minute
already seeing the Ukrainians being willing to go on the counterof- and is compatible with NATO ammunition. The
M777A2 variant is equipped with a Digital Fire
Control System (DFCS) that includes an inertial
navigation unit with Global Positioning System
backup, allowing it to self-locate. The M777
has been ordered by U.S., Canadian, Australian,
and Indian forces, with total orders currently
exceeding 1,200.

Counter Attack
Russia’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced
on June 4, that it had undertaken an air-strike
using precision air-to-ground missiles to
hit a Ukrainian artillery training centre near
Stetskovka, Sumy Region. “The foreign trainers

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