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MGM-140 ATACMS series
A series of U.S.-designed short-range ballistic missiles referred to as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). ATACMS are surface-to-surface missiles, fired from vehicles such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) or M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The missile has a number of variants: The MGM-140A missile has a 165km effective range, inertial guidance, and a warhead carrying 950 M74 submunitions, whereas the MGM-140B missile has a 300km effective range, with inertial and GPS guidance, but carries only 300 M74 submunitions. A unitary high explosive (blast) warhead is employed by the MGM-164 and MGM-168 variants . These munitions have seen use in a number of conflicts, including the 1990-1 Gulf War, 2003 Iraq War, and Ukraine War.
Analyst Note:
This MGM-140 cluster munition has failed to function as intended, and its payload of M74 submunitions is seen here spilling out of the warhead. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a rocket motor section from an MGM-140 ATACMS series surface-to-surface ballistic missile. The warhead section of the MGM-140 series missiles separate from the rocket motor before functioning, resulting in the rocket motor often being found relatively intact near the target. The MGM-140 series missiles use the same rocket motor, preventing a positive identification of the variant based off the rocket motor alone, unless the variant markings are visible. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This remnant of an MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) surface-to-surface ballistic missile is marked to indicate it is the MGM-140A variant, a cluster munition which carries 950 M74 multi-purpose submunitions. Submunitions of this type are sometimes referred to by the acronym ‘anti-personnel and anti‑materiel (APAM)’. Additional markings indicate a manufacturing date (“10/96”; October 1996), a serial number (“411240”), and other information. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) series includes variants with a variety of different payloads, including submunitions and unitary high explosive (HE) warheads. The number of submunitions carried and effective ranges also vary.
Ukraine has reportedly received the MGM-140A and MGM-140B variants, which are externally visually identical and must usually be distinguished by markings. The MGM-140A carries 950 M74 submunitions, with an effective range of 165 km, while the MGM-140B carries only 300 M74 submunitions but has a longer effective range of 300 km. (ARES)