The Polish Army has deployed M142 HIMARS rocket artillery systems to Finland to participate in NATO’s Swift Response 25 military exercises, as part of a broader contribution that includes personnel from both the 1st Rocket Brigade and the 6th Airborne Brigade. The exercise have been spread across the territories of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of which are in close proximity to Russian forces. The deployment of HIMARS systems to Finland highlights the considerable challenges Russia faces from the effective doubling of NATO’s land border with the country, which occurred when Helsinki acceded to the alliance on April 4, 2023. Each HIMRAS launcher can deploy either six GMLRS rockets with 80 kilometre ranges, or an ATACMS ballistic missile with a range exceeding 300 kilometres. New PrSM rounds are currently under development for the system with a range of over 400 kilometres. The range of these systems, and the vastness of Russia’s territory, places significant further strain on Russian air defences, with the ability of NATO members and Poland in particular to surge rocket artillery deployments in Finland at times of high tensions posing a major new security challenge.
American Buddhist Net 