Us artillery support to ukraine
U.S. Artillery Support to Ukraine in the War Against Russia
1. Introduction
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has played a pivotal role in supporting Kyiv through military aid. Artillery systems form the backbone of this assistance due to their significant impact on the battlefield. The U.S. has supplied various types of artillery, including howitzers, rocket artillery, and precision-guided munitions, which have become crucial in Ukraine’s resistance and counter-offensives. This report discusses in detail the quantity, type, timeline, significance, and battlefield role of the U.S. artillery aid to Ukraine.
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2. The Importance of Artillery in Modern Warfare
Artillery remains one of the most decisive components in modern warfare. It provides long-range firepower to support infantry, disrupt enemy formations, and destroy fortified positions. In the Ukraine war, where static trench warfare and wide frontlines dominate, artillery plays an even more critical role.
Key functions of artillery in the Ukraine war:
Suppressing enemy fire
Destroying command and control centers
Providing cover for infantry advances
Targeting enemy supply lines
Defending against armored assaults
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3. Timeline and Types of U.S. Artillery Support to Ukraine
3.1 155mm Howitzers (M777)
The M777 155mm towed howitzer has become symbolic of U.S. artillery support. It is a lightweight and easily maneuverable system that delivers accurate and sustained long-range fire.
Total Units Delivered: Over 198 M777 howitzers
First Shipment: April 2022
Donated Along With:
Over 2 million 155mm artillery shells
Spare parts and support vehicles
Fire-control systems
Impact: The M777s allowed Ukraine to match and, in some sectors, outgun Russian artillery. Its compatibility with precision-guided Excalibur rounds enabled Ukraine to conduct highly accurate strikes.
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3.2 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
The M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is arguably one of the most effective systems supplied by the U.S.
Total Units Delivered: 38+ HIMARS
First Shipment: June 2022
Ammunition Supplied:
GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System)
ER GMLRS (Extended Range)
ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System – later stage)
Impact:
With HIMARS, Ukraine gained the ability to hit Russian targets over 70 km away with high precision.
It disrupted Russian command centers, ammo depots, bridges (notably in Kherson), and logistics hubs.
The introduction of ATACMS in 2023 allowed deep strikes on Russian airfields in Crimea.
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3.3 105mm Light Howitzers
The U.S. also supplied 36 105mm howitzers to support Ukraine’s infantry brigades and for lighter, more mobile artillery needs.
Advantages: Lightweight, ideal for rapid repositioning
Use Cases: Short-range support, rear-echelon defense
Impact: These were mostly used in areas where the terrain made the heavier M777 impractical.
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3.4 M109 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzers
Variant: M109A6 Paladin (and some earlier versions)
Delivered Through: U.S. and coordinated efforts with NATO allies
Number: ~18 M109A6 units confirmed; others via intermediaries
Advantages:
Fully tracked, armored artillery
Greater survivability than towed artillery
Faster shoot-and-scoot capability
Impact: Provided Ukraine with self-propelled firepower suitable for mobile offensive operations and defensive artillery duels.
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3.5 Additional Rocket Systems (Indirect Contribution)
Though not directly part of artillery, systems like:
M270 MLRS (via U.K. with U.S. munitions)
Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade loitering munitions
Improved Targeting and Surveillance Systems
...supported artillery operations by providing targeting, surveillance, and supplementary firepower.
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4. Types and Quantities of U.S.-Supplied Artillery Ammunition
4.1 155mm Shells
Estimated Quantity: Over 2 million rounds
Types:
Standard high-explosive (HE)
Smoke and illumination rounds
Excalibur GPS-guided rounds (used to hit high-value targets with extreme accuracy)
4.2 GMLRS Rockets
Estimated Quantity: Over 15,000 rockets
Range: ~70–90 km
Accuracy: Within 2–5 meters
4.3 ATACMS Missiles
Delivered in secret in late 2023, publicly confirmed later
Range: Up to 300 km
Targets: Russian airfields, logistics hubs, radar stations
4.4 Cluster Munitions
The U.S. controversially supplied DPICM cluster munitions in 2023
Justification: Ukraine had a shell shortage, and cluster munitions increased the effectiveness of each shot
Use: Particularly effective against infantry in open terrain
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5. Logistics, Training, and Maintenance
Delivering artillery is not just about hardware. It includes:
Training Ukrainian artillery crews
Supplying maintenance kits
Building logistical networks
Digital fire-control systems and battlefield networking
U.S. personnel provided training both in Europe and via remote assistance inside Ukraine.
Ukraine’s military quickly adapted to NATO-standard artillery through:
Training rotations in Poland and Germany
Real-time battlefield application
Field-level repair and modification
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6. Strategic and Tactical Impact
6.1 Counterbattery Warfare
With U.S. artillery and radar systems (e.g., AN/TPQ-36/37), Ukraine could effectively locate and destroy Russian artillery batteries
HIMARS became the primary counter-battery tool due to its speed and precision
6.2 Shaping the Battlefield
HIMARS played a critical role in softening Russian defenses in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia
ATACMS enabled Ukraine to degrade Russian logistics deep behind the front lines
6.3 Deterring Russian Advances
In sectors like Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Kupiansk, Ukrainian artillery provided essential defense and attrition fire
Rate of Russian artillery fire dropped in mid-2023, in part due to Ukrainian counter-battery effectiveness
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7. Challenges and Limitations
7.1 Ammunition Shortages
Despite U.S. support, Ukraine faced critical shell shortages in late 2023 and early 2024. This was due to:
High rates of daily shell consumption (5,000–10,000 rounds/day)
Global production limitations
7.2 Wear and Tear
Artillery barrels have finite lifespans (~2,500–3,000 rounds)
Many M777s and howitzers experienced barrel degradation and needed repair or replacement
7.3 Adaptation by Russia
Russia adapted by:
Dispersing command centers
Hiding ammo depots deeper and underground
Increasing use of electronic warfare and camouflage
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8. Supplementary U.S. Artillery-Related Support
8.1 Counter-Battery Radars
U.S. provided 50+ counter-artillery radars
Helped Ukraine locate incoming shells and launch rapid counterstrikes
8.2 Drones and Target Acquisition
The U.S. delivered surveillance drones (e.g., ScanEagle, Puma) to locate enemy artillery
These acted as spotters for M777 and HIMARS
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9. Future Commitments and Production Ramp-Up
To address shortages and maintain momentum:
The U.S. increased 155mm shell production to 100,000/month by mid-2024
Additional HIMARS launchers and modernized Paladin howitzers are planned
Joint production agreements were signed to co-produce ammunition in Ukraine
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10. Comparison with Russian Artillery
Russia has a numerical advantage in artillery pieces
But U.S.-supplied systems offered better accuracy, mobility, and coordination
HIMARS strikes were game-changers in hitting targets Russian artillery couldn’t reach
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11. Conclusion
As of May 2025, the United States has provided Ukraine with:
Over 198 M777 155mm howitzers
36+ 105mm howitzers
18+ M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers
38+ HIMARS launchers
Over 2 million 155mm shells
Over 15,000 GMLRS rockets
Dozens of ATACMS missiles
Counter-battery radars, targeting systems, drones, and training
The total U.S. artillery assistance forms the backbone of Ukraine’s firepower and has been instrumental in:
Blunting Russian advances
Enabling counter-offensives
Targeting critical enemy infrastructure
As the war continues, artillery will remain a central component of military aid, and the U.S. is likely to expand deliveries further, especially with increasing production and NATO coordination.
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