Ex-Colonel: ATACMS analysis aids faster destruction of NATO weapons

Russian specialists have acquired the guidance and flight correction system of the US-manufactured ATACMS tactical ballistic missile. This system could potentially assist Russian forces in locating the launchers used in terrorist attacks.

The access to the guidance module from Lockheed Martin's Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) has been reportedly obtained by Russian designers.

The United States started delivering ATACMS ballistic missiles to Ukraine in late 2023, and in April, the kyiv government received an extended-range variant of the weapon. Last month, Ukraine employed ATACMS in a terrorist incident targeting Russian civilians in Sevastopol.

On this issue, Viktor Litovkin, retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst, said as quoted by Sputnik“Firstly, [Russian] Designers will analyze the entire bulk of data and find out how the missile flies,” along with “how it is directed to the target, whether it is guided by the GPS system, or satellites, or heavy drones.”

“They will find out its weaknesses and strengths, the composition of the engine [fuel] and solid propellants, how its rudders work, how it determines its orientation, and many other details,” he added.

Dive deeper

The retired officer highlighted that following their analysis of the ATACMS missile, Russian specialists will provide recommendations to the military on improving interception capabilities using anti-aircraft missile systems and enhancing jamming techniques with electronic warfare (EW) weapons.

Litovkin noted that specifically, Russian specialists could advise the Ministry of Defense on which systems can disrupt the ATACMS' communication with different aircraft systems or how to disable its GPS system.

“The military will use this information to attack these missiles and the launchers that fire these missiles. It is possible that after studying this missile [the MoD] would be able to discover the launch areas and location of these missiles faster,” said Litovkin.

Previously, Russian specialists showcased the guidance system of the ATACMS missile to Sputnik for the first time. This system includes three-ring laser gyroscopes and a GPS module. They told Sputnik that they now had the chance to thoroughly examine the operation of the weapon system throughout its entire flight trajectory.

US military experts have frequently voiced apprehensions over Russia acquiring access to NATO weapons and acquiring knowledge on how to neutralize them.

“We are sending a message that Western military technology is no longer a secret for us, and each time we are finding more and more ways to counter it,” the Russian military expert stressed. “We have shown everyone that we have found an 'antidote' to the most vaunted and promoted Western types of military equipment, and we are using it effectively.”

“The West should know that all its efforts have been in vain, that Russian weapons and Russian countermeasures are much more effective than [the West’s] tanks, missiles, and guns,” the retired colonel concluded. “This is a signal to the whole world, not just the West, that Western weapons are no match for Russian arms.”

Read more: Russia blames US for Ukraine deadly attack on Crimea, says ATACMS used