RAND Forecasting
Initiative
Archive
The RAND Forecasting Initiative has concluded. This is a permanent read-only archive. Accounts, forecasting, and comments are no longer available.

← All questions

Will at least one European country or the European Union (EU) collectively commit to providing Ukraine with HIMARS-compatible rocket artillery systems or functional substitutes by 31 December 2025?

Yes/No Opened 5 May 2025 Closed 1 January 2026 Resolved 2 January 2026 491 forecasts 89 forecasters
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has relied heavily on advanced Western artillery and air defense systems, particularly those produced by the United States. As of early 2025, 86% of Ukraine’s rocket artillery systems (such as HIMARS), 82% of its howitzer ammunition, and 70% of its long-range air defense systems (such as Patriots) are U.S.-produced (Kiel Institute, Ukraine Support Tracker). These systems—along with U.S. intelligence sharing and satellite imagery—are considered the hardest to replace among Ukraine’s heavy weapons, creating significant vulnerabilities as U.S. support becomes less certain (Kiel Institute).
European countries face increasing pressure to fill this gap. While some nations possess compatible systems like the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems compatible with HIMARS rockets, European stockpiles and ammunition are limited, and efforts to boost production face supply chain and export control challenges (Wikipedia, Politico, Modern Diplomacy). As a result, European governments are exploring alternative systems like South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo and Israel’s PULS systems, with some countries already procuring or evaluating them (The Defense Post, Defense News). The EU has also proposed doubling military aid to Ukraine, including €40 billion for weapons procurement, but whether Europe can scale these efforts to meet Ukraine’s defense needs remains a key question (European Commission).
Resolution Criteria: This question will be resolved using credible news sources and/or official government statements/releases. A “Yes” resolution requires that a European government or the EU collectively formally announces a commitment to provide Ukraine with any of the following by 31 December 2025:
  • M142 HIMARS launchers
  • Other HIMARS-compatible rocket artillery systems (e.g., M270 launchers)
  • Substitute systems (e.g., South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo or Israel's PULS), defined as multiple rocket launchers capable of delivering guided or unguided rockets at ranges broadly comparable to U.S.-made HIMARS/M270.

The following are EXCLUDED from this resolution:
  • Non-European systems (e.g., Turkish SAGE 227 rockets) unless procured and donated by a European government/EU.
  • General financial aid pledges without specific allocation to rocket artillery systems.

Outcome

Answer Final crowd forecast Resolution
Yes 6% Did not happen
No 94% Happened

“Final crowd forecast” is the last aggregate crowd probability computed before the question closed – the right-hand end of the chart below, which this table is the accessible equivalent of.

Crowd forecast over time

0% 25% 50% 75% 100% May 2025 Aug 2025 Jan 2026 94% 6%
No Yes
The aggregate crowd probability, one point per day, from RFI's primary aggregation method. Gaps are days with no computed aggregate. Individual forecasts are not shown.