Former US general wants to transfer maximum-range missiles to Ukraine capable of striking deep into Crimea

Army tactical missile system during military exercises Photo: US 8th Army/via Reuters

US to send most advanced version of long-range missile ATACMS range for Ukraine, the former commander of US Forces Europe said.

Joe Biden is widely reported to have approved the transfer of the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine ahead of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.< /p>

But according to the Washington Post, the administration is considering sending a shorter-range cluster munition version of the missile rather than the 120-mile, one-shot variant known as a unitary warhead.

Former US Gen. Ben Hodges urged the Biden administration to send the longest-range warhead, saying a shorter warhead «would not be as effective at destroying large Russian targets in Crimea.»

There was also debate about the number of warheads. says the US will send only a «small number» to avoid depleting its own stockpile.

Ukrainian long-range missiles

Lt. Gen. Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, told combat zone participants that «hundreds» would be needed ATACMS to change the overall situation on the battlefield.

The US has produced only 4,000 missiles and Biden is reportedly considering giving Ukraine 100 missiles.

The ATACMS missile does not need to be launched from a fighter, unlike the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP EG.

She also takes five minutes to travel 190 miles, while Storm Shadow takes 15.

It is believed that the United States is likely to donate refurbished missiles that have expired to Ukraine. Photo: South Korean Ministry of Defense/AFP via Getty Images

“Higher speed and ease of delivery means ATACMS is better able to hit time-sensitive targets, including, for example, mobile missile launchers and high-ranking military officials during a visit to the front line,” said Fabian Hoffmann, a missile expert at the University. from Oslo.

There are several variants of ATACMS, but it is believed that the US is most likely to donate refurbished missiles that have expired.

ATACMS MGM 140

That would mean sending either the old M39 or the updated M39A1, Mr. Hoffman said. The new missile has a range of 190 miles, while its predecessor had a range of 100.

The Telegraph understands that Kiev's use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles of similar range to strike only Ukraine helped assuage US administration concerns that ATACMS could be used against targets overseas with Russia, a result the White House still considers escalating and problematic.< /p>Dangerously Low Inventories

Some officials fear that with an expected production line of about 40 pieces per month, any significant donation to Ukraine would leave the United States with dangerously low inventories in the event of a military crisis.

Supply concerns may have been eased by the expected 2024 arrival of the US Army's new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), which was developed to replace the ATACMS.

With an expected range of about 500 km, the PrSM will only be available to US forces due to the collapse of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019. This prohibited the United States and Russia from deploying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 km.

Last week, Douglas Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said the development of PrSM «could make it less risky in terms of readiness» provision of ATACMS to Ukraine.

Latest news ATACMS option will allow you to be within reach of the entire Crimea, including the Kerch Bridge if necessary. Using a unitary warhead would also allow Kiev to hit command posts and hardened weapons storage sites at ranges beyond the reach of Storm Shadow, a weapon system believed to soon be in short supply given recent defense spending by Britain and France.

Lieutenant General Budanov suggested that priority may be given to other Russian assets, especially since the longest-range ATACMS can also use submunitions to hit targets scattered over a wide area.

“The Russians they simply place command posts and other things outside these distances, so we have nothing to reach them there,” he said.

“The same situation is with Russian aviation at airfields. Fighting Russian aviation using air defense systems is very costly and ineffective. Aviation must be transported to air bases.”