The War Zone writes about this with reference to Ivan Vinnyk, the first deputy chairman of the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI).
By comparison, the GMLRS munitions - fired by the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS and the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) provided to Ukraine - have a range of up to about 80km and a 227mm, 90 kg warhead.
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Vinnyk told The War Zone that the Vilkha-M modification program began in 2018 and that about 100 units have been produced.
They were first used in combat in May, 2022, he added.
Their precision, he said, is boosted by so-called “gas rudders” - scores of small holes emitting propellant - used to direct the missile on the target via GPS. While the Vilkha-M is said to be quite accurate and a precision munition, just how accurate isn't disclosed at this time.
As The War Zone reads citing Ivan Vinnyk, it is planned to modify Vilkha-M in order to increase the range to 150 km. Tests of new missile variants will be conducted on the battlefield.
The article in The War Zone is accompanied with appropriate video Defense Express published 3 years ago.
DE note: Vilkha-M has been designed as an extended-range follow-on to the original precision-guided Vilkha MLRS that that has been operationally deployed with Ukraine’s Armed Forces since 2018. Vilkha-M has a range capability of 130 km compared to 70 km range achievable with the Vilkha original. First test launches with Vilkha-M were reported in April 2019.
As Defense Express reported, Vilkha-M underwent final stage of its official qualification trials program late 2021. We also wrote that Vilkha-M MLRS found it’s the first export customers in April 2021.
Read more: KB Luch Demonstrates its Vilkha-M MLRS, Barrier-S ATGM at an Expo in Iraq
