Suddenly it works. The US will deliver over a hundred long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

It is a response to the destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and the use of missiles from the DPRK.

We will continue to deliver missiles with these “capabilities,” Sullivan said, according to Defense One. He declined to specify their quantity because it could harm Ukraine: “If I said how many, then the enemy could count down (the ones used), which could give them an advantage.” He mentioned that their production cannot be increased as easily as that of large-caliber artillery ammunition: “Therefore, the way we think about delivering them is different from conventional munitions.”

At the same time, he confirmed that the first delivery of these missiles was part of the aid package sent on March 12, based on the decree signed by the president, after it was possible to achieve unexpected savings in weapons purchases for the US armed forces: “They are already in Ukraine and have been in Ukraine for some time .”

In March, it was not mentioned that ATCMS missiles were among the weapons supplied. Defense One stated that in addition to 105 and 155 mm artillery shells and Stinger hand-held anti-aircraft missiles, HIMARS salvo rocket launchers were also delivered, which can fire these missiles, but mostly fire 227 mm rockets with a range of about 75 km.

Russia used North Korean KN-23 in Ukraine. What are they capable of?

The war in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden decided to deliver these missiles with a range of 300 km after several negotiations between the National Security Council and the Department of Defense. Once enough were produced, the White House had no problem sending them, “especially when Russia received and used North Korean ballistic missiles and renewed attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” Sullivan explained.

The Ukrainians received long-range missiles in advance in a secret delivery and are already using them

Europe

According to The New York Times, Biden has previously agreed to hand over more than a hundred ATCMS missiles with a range of 300 km. But there was no talk of keeping it secret and it could be a surprise, an unnamed US official told Reuters.

Pressure on the Germans

At the same time, the delivery of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine is intended to put additional pressure on Germany to supply Kiev with Taurus cruise missiles, which Berlin continues to refuse. “As for the Taurus, the decision is made by Germany, but of course we hope that the ATACMS supply from the US and the previous decision by Britain and France to supply longer-range missiles will play a role,” an unnamed US official told TV5 Monde.

Germany rejects it, because German soldiers would have to help with the programming of the missiles. The disadvantage of the Tauruses, which have a range of 500, is that they have to be launched from aircraft.

From the beginning, in addition to missiles with a flat flight path, the Russians have bombarded Ukraine with short-range Iskander ballistic missiles, the range of which is approximately 500 km, while the North Korean KN-23 has a range of less than 400 km.