The US is inclined to provide Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles that could reach targets deep in Russia, but Kyiv will have to wait several months to receive them. This was reported by Reuters with reference to its own sources in the US government.
It is expected that the inclusion of joint air-to-surface standoff missiles (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile — JASSM) to the arms package will be announced this fall, three sources said, although no final decision has yet been made.
Impact on the battlefield
Sending JASSM to Ukraine could significantly change the strategic situation on the battlefield, US officials said. And military analysts have suggested that providing JASSMs, which are stealthy and can hit further than most other missiles in the current arsenal of the Armed Forces, could push Russian bridgeheads and supply depots hundreds of kilometers away.
Among the first possible targets for these missiles, the agency names Russian military facilities in the Russian border regions — Voronezh and Bryansk, as well as in Crimea, which is illegally occupied by the Russian Federation.
Granting Ukraine JASSM would also increase pressure on Washington to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American weapons. After all, if JASSM will be provided to Kyiv, but the USA will limit the radius of the permitted use of these missiles, then the effect of these weapons will be limited, said a congressional employee working on this issue.
The other day, during a visit to Washington, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov said that the Biden administration is still considering Kyiv’s request to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia. He confirmed that he presented a list of possible targets of the Armed Forces.
Despite repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the US is currently not easing restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range tactical missile systems (ATACMS). At the same time, Ukraine has a limited number of long-range missiles provided by the United States, and the American side made it clear that Kiev should not expect further supplies of ATACMS due to the limited number of American stocks and the long production time of the weapons.
Ukraine previously received long-range Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles from Great Britain and France, but their use for Kyiv is also limited to the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. British Prime Minister the other day Enter Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that there are also “no new decisions” from either of their countries regarding the use of weapons provided to Ukraine by both countries.
JASSM Specifications
JASSM has so far been used only on American aircraft, in particular on the F-15, B-1B, B-2, B-52H, F-35, as well as on the F-16, which have already entered service with the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
One of the sources told Reuters that the missile is also suitable for use with non-Western fighter jets that are in Ukraine’s arsenal, which was not previously reported. The Air Force of Ukraine has a fleet of Soviet MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 jet aircraft.
Older JASSM models, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have a range of approximately 370 km. The missiles, about 4 meters long, are designed to be invisible to radar. They can also fly close to the ground and can be programmed to take detours to avoid air defenses.
There is also a longer-range JASSM missile that can fly more than 800 kilometers. Reuters was not immediately able to determine which of the two types Washington was considering, but believed the US stockpiled more of these shorter-range missiles.
Each JASSM has a large warhead weighing around 450 kilograms, but unlike the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, they are not designed to penetrate protected bunkers. The newest versions cost about $1 million each. This weapon has been in production since 2001, in service with the US Air Force since 2009, and in 2018, 19 JASSM missiles were used during the Syrian civil war. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin informsthat a total of more than 3,500 such missiles had already been launched.
Global Positioning System (GPS) signals and an inertial navigation system provide guidance for the missile. As it approaches its target, an infrared sensor can help direct it to the point of impact with an accuracy of about 3 meters.
While older models may be less resistant to electronic warfare than the new JASSM, the infrared drive will help find a target even under heavy interference, said George William Herbert of the Middlebury Institute for International Studies.
“They’re pretty stealthy, but they’re not fully designed for maximum stealth,” Herbert said. “There were a lot of (these missiles) launched after the chemical weapons incidents in Syria a few years ago, and the Russian air defense systems in the country weren’t able to shoot down a lot of them.” , perhaps none.”
“I expect that carefully planned missile flight paths will allow JASSM to be effective in almost any war zone,” he added.
The article uses Reuters materials
Table of Contents
US to Provide Ukraine with Long-Range Cruise Missiles: A Game Changer in the Battlefield
In a significant move, the United States is set to provide Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, specifically the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), which could reach targets deep in Russia [[1]]. This decision is expected to be announced this fall, although no final decision has been made yet. The inclusion of JASSM in the arms package could significantly change the strategic situation on the battlefield, according to US officials [[2]].
Impact on the Battlefield
The provision of JASSM to Ukraine could push Russian bridgeheads and supply depots hundreds of kilometers away, military analysts suggest. The missiles, which are stealthy and can hit further than most other missiles in the current arsenal of the Armed Forces, could also target Russian military facilities in the Russian border regions of Voronezh and Bryansk, as well as in Crimea, which is illegally occupied by the Russian Federation [[3]].
Lifting Restrictions on Ukraine’s Use of American Weapons
Granting Ukraine JASSM would increase pressure on Washington to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American weapons. If JASSM is provided to Kyiv, but the USA limits the radius of the permitted use of these missiles, then the effect of these weapons will be limited, a congressional employee working on this issue emphasized.
Ukraine’s Request to Lift Restrictions
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov recently visited Washington and presented a list of possible targets of the Armed Forces, reiterating Kyiv’s request to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia. However, the US is currently not easing restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range tactical missile systems (ATACMS), citing limited stocks and long production times.
JASSM Specifications
JASSM has been used only on American aircraft, including the F-15, B-1B, B-2, B-52H, F-35, and F-16, which have already entered service with the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The missile is also suitable for use with non-Western fighter jets in Ukraine’s arsenal, such as the Soviet MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27 jet aircraft [[2]].
The older JASSM models, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, have a range of approximately 370 km. The missiles, about 4 meters long, are designed to be invisible to radar and can fly close to the ground. They can also be programmed to take detours to avoid air defenses. There is also a longer-range JASSM missile that can fly more than 800 kilometers.
Each JASSM has a large warhead weighing around 450 kilograms, but unlike the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, they are not designed to penetrate protected bunkers. The newest versions cost about $1 million each. This weapon has been in production since 2001, in service with the US Air Force since 2009, and in 2018, 19 JASSM missiles were used during the Syrian civil war.
Global Positioning System and Infrared Sensor
Global Positioning System (GPS) signals and an inertial navigation system provide guidance for the missile. As it approaches its target, an infrared sensor can help direct it to the point of impact with an accuracy of about 3 meters. While older models may be less resistant to electronic warfare than the new JASSM, the infrared drive will help.
the potential provision of JASSM to Ukraine marks a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The long-range cruise missiles could significantly change the battlefield dynamics, providing Ukraine with a much-needed advantage. However, the decision is not final, and the US government is still considering Ukraine’s request to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons.
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How would the provision of JASSM missiles impact the strategic landscape of the conflict in Ukraine?
US Considers Providing Long-Range Cruise Missiles to Ukraine, A Game-Changer in the Conflict
The United States is reportedly inclined to provide Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, specifically the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), which could significantly change the strategic situation on the battlefield. According to Reuters, the US government is considering adding JASSM to the arms package for Ukraine, with an announcement expected this fall, although no final decision has been made yet.
Impact on the Battlefield
Sending JASSM to Ukraine could have a profound impact on the battlefield. These stealthy missiles can hit targets deep in Russia, potentially pushing Russian bridgeheads and supply depots hundreds of kilometers away. The Ukrainian military could use JASSM to target Russian military facilities in the Russian border regions of Voronezh and Bryansk, as well as in Crimea, which is illegally occupied by the Russian Federation.
Lifting Restrictions on Ukraine’s Use of Long-Range Weapons
Providing JASSM to Ukraine would increase pressure on Washington to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons for strikes deep into Russia. Ukraine has repeatedly requested the US to ease restrictions on the use of American weapons, but the US has not yet agreed to do so. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov has presented a list of possible targets for the Ukrainian military, but the US has been hesitant to lift restrictions due to concerns about escalating the conflict.
JASSM Specifications
JASSM has been used only on American aircraft, including the F-15, B-1B, B-2, B-52H, F-35, and F-16, which have already entered service with the Ukrainian Air Force. The missile is also suitable for use with non-Western fighter jets in Ukraine’s arsenal, including Soviet MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27 jet aircraft. Older JASSM models have a range of approximately 370 km, while newer versions can fly more than 800 kilometers. Each JASSM has a large warhead weighing around 450 kilograms and is designed to be invisible to radar. The missiles can fly close to the ground and take detours to avoid air defenses.
US Military Assistance to Ukraine
The US has been providing significant military assistance to Ukraine, including more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, over 120,000 other anti-armor systems and munitions, and more than 9,000 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wireless-Guided (TOW) missiles [2]. The US has also sent Ukraine long-range missiles, although their use is limited to the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine [3].
Conclusion
The potential provision of JASSM to Ukraine could be a game-changer in the conflict, allowing the Ukrainian military to strike deep into Russian territory. However, the US will need to consider the implications of providing such powerful weapons, including the risk of escalating the conflict and the need to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons. As the situation continues to evolve, it will be crucial to monitor developments and assess the impact of US military assistance on the conflict in Ukraine.
