Germany delivers Mars II to Ukraine: what the multiple rocket launcher can do

Created: 07/28/2022, 11:46 am

By: Felix Durach

The German government has delivered the first Mars-II multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine.

This is what makes the weapon systems so important in the Ukraine war.

Berlin - Germany continues to expand its arms sales to Ukraine.

After the delivery of several Panzerhaubitzen 2000, the federal government has now also provided the first anti-aircraft tanks of the "Gepard" type for the Ukrainian army.

Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) also announced on Tuesday that Germany had delivered three "Mars II" multiple rocket launchers.

The latter could be of great importance for Ukraine in the current situation in the Ukraine war.

But what is actually behind Mars II?

Mars II multiple rocket launcher: The weapon systems for Ukraine can do this

The Bavarian armaments company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann manufactures the Mars multiple rocket launcher artillery system (medium artillery system) for the Bundeswehr.

It is an armored tracked vehicle with a built-on rocket launcher frame.

The Mars II systems can fire different types of ammunition.

In addition to unguided missiles for shorter ranges, they can also launch missiles that use GPS to find their targets.

The firing of anti-tank mines is also possible.

Among other things, this can be used to block off an area from enemy infantry.

Germany has delivered three Mars II multiple missile server systems to Ukraine.

© Sebastian Gollnow

A major advantage of the Mars II rocket launchers is the great mobility of the systems.

The chain drive allows the vehicle to travel to other places quickly.

It can dodge enemy artillery fire or take on new targets itself.

The vehicle reaches top speeds of up to 50 km/h.

Once on target, the rocket launcher, operated by a crew of three, is quickly ready for use and can fire up to twelve rockets in 55 seconds.

Longer range than howitzers: That makes Mars II so important for the Ukraine war

In contrast to the Panzerhaubitze 2000, also provided by Germany, Mars II has a significantly longer range.

The multiple rocket launcher can target targets up to 84 kilometers away.

The range of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 is exhausted at 40 kilometers.

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The Ukrainian troops can thus distance themselves significantly further from the enemy forces and still continue to attack them.

In addition, the Mars-II only requires a crew of three.

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 must be operated by five people.

Mars and Himars: This is what differentiates the multiple rocket launchers from each other

The importance of multiple rocket launchers in the Ukraine war is also shown by the so-called Himars rocket launchers.

The US government has supplied the Himars systems (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to the Ukrainian army.

They are a further development of the Mars II system from the US defense company Lockheed Martin.

The carrier system for the rockets was installed on a wheeled vehicle for this purpose.

In this way, the systems can move even faster and, due to their lower weight, can be transported more easily to other regions.

The Himars can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h.

US supplies: Ukraine advances counteroffensive with multiple rocket launchers

Kyiv is primarily using the rocket launchers in the ongoing counter-offensive in the south of the country.

According to British intelligence information, the Ukrainian armed forces have destroyed various bridges in the Cherson region and possibly even cut off supplies to the Russian troops.

With the right ammunition, Himars systems can reach a range of several hundred kilometers.

However, the USA only supplied ammunition with a range of up to 70 kilometers for the multiple rocket launchers.

This allows Ukrainian forces to use the systems effectively in the war zone, but not easily attack targets on Russian territory.

A US Himars multiple rocket launcher at a military exercise in Jordan.

© Petra News Agency/dpa

War in Ukraine: Lambrecht announces further deliveries: Artillery should “act even faster and more precisely”

According to Lambrecht, the industry should also supply a Cobra type artillery detection radar.

"The contract has already been signed, and now the training of the Ukrainian soldiers on this highly complex system will begin." The industry still has to prepare it for delivery.

"This will allow our artillery systems to work even faster and more precisely," promised the minister.