Post by Odysseus on Oct 4, 2023 22:42:50 GMT
The US looks set to send Ukraine the Army Tactical Missile System, which Kyiv has long sought. ATACMS has longer range than Ukraine's other missiles, allowing it to hit valuable Russian targets. But using it effectively will require accurate intelligence and precise targeting, experts say.
The missile, with both unitary and cluster-munition warheads, would allow Ukrainian forces to reach well beyond the range of the Western-made cruise missiles and rocket artillery they already have to strike valuable targets, such as Russian air bases, but hitting them will require timely intelligence and precise targeting, experts say.
After months of declining Ukraine's requests, President Joe Biden reportedly told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was willing to send ATACMS, as the missile is known, at a meeting in Washington DC last month. There has not been a formal announcement, but Doug Bush, the US Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, told Bloomberg this week that the missiles to be sent have been identified and that officials were "ready when and if" Biden approves.
US officials have cited concern about depleting the US's own ATACMS stockpile as a reason not to send it to Ukraine, but the decision to provide cluster munitions earlier this year expanded the range of ATACMS warheads that could be provided and is seen as reducing that concern. ...
The missile, with both unitary and cluster-munition warheads, would allow Ukrainian forces to reach well beyond the range of the Western-made cruise missiles and rocket artillery they already have to strike valuable targets, such as Russian air bases, but hitting them will require timely intelligence and precise targeting, experts say.
After months of declining Ukraine's requests, President Joe Biden reportedly told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was willing to send ATACMS, as the missile is known, at a meeting in Washington DC last month. There has not been a formal announcement, but Doug Bush, the US Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, told Bloomberg this week that the missiles to be sent have been identified and that officials were "ready when and if" Biden approves.
US officials have cited concern about depleting the US's own ATACMS stockpile as a reason not to send it to Ukraine, but the decision to provide cluster munitions earlier this year expanded the range of ATACMS warheads that could be provided and is seen as reducing that concern. ...