US Ups the Ante: Long-Range Cruise Missiles Headed to Ukraine in Major Escalation
US to Approve Long-Range Cruise Missile Shipment to Ukraine
The United States is on the verge of approving a shipment of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, significantly enhancing the country’s ability to strike deep into Russian territory.
The US JASSM long-range air-to-surface missile aid package for Ukraine is expected to be announced this fall, although a final decision has not yet been made, according to media reports.
A US official revealed that JASSM is currently integrated into US-designed aircraft, and efforts are underway to enable its operation on non-Western fighter aircraft. The older version of JASSM boasts a range of approximately 370 km, while the longer-range version can fly over 800 km.
It remains unclear which type of missile the US will provide to Ukraine. The White House National Security Council declined to comment on media reports suggesting that US President Joe Biden is contemplating the provision of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Russia views arms supplies to Ukraine as a significant obstacle to resolving the conflict, believing that this directly involves NATO countries.
In early August, the US announced an additional $125 million worth of missiles and ammunition for Kiev, aimed at supporting Ukraine’s “important security and defense needs“. The package includes Stinger air defense missiles, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), ammunition for 155 mm and 105 mm guns, Javelin, AT-4 and TOW anti-tank missiles, small arms ammunition, and destructive weapons.
The aid package also encompasses multi-mission radar, Humvee ambulances, spare parts, services, training, and transportation.
Washington’s previous military aid package, valued at $1.7 billion, was delivered to Ukraine in late July. According to Pentagon figures, the US has provided over $56.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
A Pentagon spokesman emphasized that the aid is not an escalation, but rather a means of supporting Ukraine’s “self-defense” efforts.