Ukraine claims they need ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) to take down Russia. Russia has invaded Ukraine in hopes of obtaining the country for itself. Biden, the U.S. administration, and defense officials are debating.
ATACMS is a long-range missile with a range of 190 miles. They weigh around 2 tons. Each is 13 feet long, 2 feet in diameter, and costs 1.5 million dollars.
“Without long-range weapons, it is difficult not only to carry out an offensive mission but also to conduct a defensive operation,” Zelensky said at a July 7 news conference in Prague.
However, Biden is concerned about the limited number of ATACMS available. The amount of ATACMS in the U.S. military is classified information. We know that Lockheed Martin, an aerospace company, has produced 4,000 ATACMS since 1980. But the missiles are destined for sale to other countries, not just the U.S.
According to officials, the most concerning thing about giving Ukraine ATACMS is that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would severely undercut U.S. readiness for other possible conflicts.
“(The U.S.) has relatively few ATACMS. We do have to make sure that we maintain our munitions inventories, as well.” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said.
Britain and France have supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles: British Storm Shadows and French SCALPS. The missiles have a range of 140 miles. ATACMS have a range of 90 miles, longer only by 50 miles.
“However, the main benefit is not range but simply capacity,” Ed Arnold said. Ed is a researcher in European security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. Ukraine would have more opportunities to hit Russian targets than it would with its supplies of Storm Shadows and SCALP missiles. Ed says.
Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are long-range, air-to-air cruise missiles. ATACMS are surface-to-surface systems with some ability to move during flight.
ATACMS can reach targets around 155 miles away in five minutes. The Storm Shadow and SCALPS take 15 minutes.
The Storm Shadows and SCALPS have proven effective against this fight. But the ATACMS would enhance Ukraine’s success against Russia.
Yet another problem is Russia itself. Officials are concerned that Ukraine will fire their ATACMS at Russian territory. Moscow has publicly threatened that supplying Ukraine with ATACMS would cross a line.
So, the Biden administration had Ukraine make public statements and written pledges not to use US-supplied weapons on Russian grounds.
Biden has not publicly agreed to Ukraine’s pleas.
ATACMS is a long-range missile with a range of 190 miles. They weigh around 2 tons. Each is 13 feet long, 2 feet in diameter, and costs 1.5 million dollars.
“Without long-range weapons, it is difficult not only to carry out an offensive mission but also to conduct a defensive operation,” Zelensky said at a July 7 news conference in Prague.
However, Biden is concerned about the limited number of ATACMS available. The amount of ATACMS in the U.S. military is classified information. We know that Lockheed Martin, an aerospace company, has produced 4,000 ATACMS since 1980. But the missiles are destined for sale to other countries, not just the U.S.
According to officials, the most concerning thing about giving Ukraine ATACMS is that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would severely undercut U.S. readiness for other possible conflicts.
“(The U.S.) has relatively few ATACMS. We do have to make sure that we maintain our munitions inventories, as well.” Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said.
Britain and France have supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles: British Storm Shadows and French SCALPS. The missiles have a range of 140 miles. ATACMS have a range of 90 miles, longer only by 50 miles.
“However, the main benefit is not range but simply capacity,” Ed Arnold said. Ed is a researcher in European security at the London-based Royal United Services Institute. Ukraine would have more opportunities to hit Russian targets than it would with its supplies of Storm Shadows and SCALP missiles. Ed says.
Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are long-range, air-to-air cruise missiles. ATACMS are surface-to-surface systems with some ability to move during flight.
ATACMS can reach targets around 155 miles away in five minutes. The Storm Shadow and SCALPS take 15 minutes.
The Storm Shadows and SCALPS have proven effective against this fight. But the ATACMS would enhance Ukraine’s success against Russia.
Yet another problem is Russia itself. Officials are concerned that Ukraine will fire their ATACMS at Russian territory. Moscow has publicly threatened that supplying Ukraine with ATACMS would cross a line.
So, the Biden administration had Ukraine make public statements and written pledges not to use US-supplied weapons on Russian grounds.
Biden has not publicly agreed to Ukraine’s pleas.