US Lawmakers Ask Pentagon to Allow Ukraine's Use of Long-Range Weapons on Russian Territory

[blue-wave]

Source: Kyiv Post

A bipartisan group within the US House of Representatives – seven Democrats and six Republicans – wrote to the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, on Monday, May 20, asking for him to authorize Ukraine to strike the territory of Russia with US long-range weapons such as ATACMS. The request comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly appealed to loosen the White House restrictions placed on the use of US weapons, with Ukraine under pressure from further Russian gains on the front line.

Several US and international news outlets questioned the logic of supplying long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, with the condition that they would not be used to strike targets in Russia. In addition to the request to remove the restriction, Kyiv reportedly also asked the US to provide detailed intelligence on troops, military units, and factories deep in Russia so they could be targeted by Ukrainian-made weapons.



Read more: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/33073

[pecosbob]

1. Um...ATACMS is a short-range weapon system.

Last edited Thu May 23, 2024, 10:27 AM - Edit history (1)

The new Precision Strike Missile designed to be launched from it only has a three-hundred mile range, and we haven't even given any to Ukraine. The missiles they are currently using only have a two-hundred mile range.

[orangecrush]

3. It appears you are correct

Which makes me wonder if something was lost in translation.

However, there are some things that can compensate for range, I suppose...

"ATACMS was the successor to the Lance missile system. Lance fired a tactical missile that could carry either a nuclear warhead out to 120 kilometer or high-explosive warhead out to 75 kilometers."

Horse shoes and hand grenades...

[pecosbob]

4. In treaty-speak short-range is up to 1000 km or 600 miles.

Theoretically the new PrMS could reach Moscow from Ukrainian territory, so I'm guessing it's these they're talking about.

[Kaleva]

6. There are various versions of the ATACMs

The one identified as "long range" has a maximum range of about 190 miles.

[orangecrush]

7. Thanks

For clarification!

[Kaleva]

5. Long range ATACMs were given to Ukraine earlier this year

"An opportunity arose in March, when several Pentagon contracts came in under bid. Biden was able to use the difference to send $300 million in assistance to Ukraine.
Biden told his team to include the long-range ATACMS in this funding package, but to do so secretly in order to maintain operational security and the element of surprise for Ukraine, the official said."
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-quietly-shipped-long-range-atacms-missiles-ukraine-2024-04-24/

"ATACMS is a long-range, guided missile that gives commanders the immediate firepower to shape the battlespace. Each ATACMS missile is packaged in a look-alike MLRS launch pod and fired from the MLRS family of launchers.

ATACMS Specifics

Improved guidance package with Global Positioning System
Carries a WDU18, 500-lb class blast fragmentation warhead
Maximum range is 300 km"

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/army-tactical-missile-system.html