For the first time, the United States will transfer GLSDB missiles with a range of up to 150 km to Ukraine, Reuters reports . They will be included in a new $2 billion military aid package.
This is not yet the ATACMS with a range of up to 300 km, which Kyiv has been asking for for a long time. But the range of 150 km is twice as much as the range of all missiles supplied to Ukraine before. GLSDB will allow the Armed Forces to cover targets throughout the territory occupied by Russia after February 24 and in the north of Crimea.
What happened
The United States is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $2 billion, two U.S. officials told Reuters. For the first time, Boeing’s GLSDB homing missiles with a range of 150 km will be included in the package, they said. When and in what quantity they will arrive in Ukraine is still unknown. Kyiv’s request for the supply of ATACMS with a range of almost 300 km has so far been rejected, the agency notes.
Bloomberg also writes that the new military aid package will include longer-range missiles , but without details. Previously, Politico reported that the United States is discussing the supply of high-precision and relatively cheap GLSDBs to Ukraine, suitable for HIMARS systems. Until now, the United States has supplied Ukraine, along with HIMARS artillery systems, only with GMLRS missiles with a range of about 70 km.
A new aid package could be officially announced as early as this week, Reuters writes. In addition to the GLSDB, it will include support equipment for Patriot air defense systems, precision-guided munitions, Javelin anti-tank systems, drones, medical equipment for field hospitals, and others. The content and scope of the aid package is subject to change until signed by the president, the agency adds.
GLSDB missiles are GPS-guided, can bypass some electronic interference, be used against armored vehicles and operate in all weather conditions, writes Reuters. The long range of the missiles will allow Ukraine to hit targets that were previously out of reach and continue its counterattacks, the agency said.
What does it mean
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the United States and its allies have been supplying Kiev with the weapons it needs to defend itself, but have refrained from supplying offensive equipment – now the West is apparently abandoning this principle, writes Bloomberg. This is also evidenced by the readiness of the United States and Germany to supply tanks to Ukraine, and now possible deliveries of longer-range missiles (what to expect from NATO tanks in Ukraine, we told here ).
In mid-January, The New York Times wrote that the US presidential administration had revised its position regarding the supply of weapons to Ukraine, the range of which would allow strikes in Crimea. According to the publication, the White House believes that a direct threat to the Crimea will strengthen the position of Kyiv in future negotiations.
GLSDB missiles will allow the Armed Forces to cover targets throughout the territory occupied by Russia after February 24 and in the north of Crimea. At the same time, Washington is still not ready to supply ATACMS, which would have the entire Crimea, including Simferopol and Sevastopol, within reach. As well as the supply of F-16 fighters.
Why is it important
How seriously the Kremlin takes the threat to Crimea from Kyiv may determine Russia’s further actions in Ukraine. And also a new wave of mobilization, the details of which are given by the Western media and which the Kremlin denies over and over again .
Source : The Bell
