The JASSM missile could allow Ukraine to hit targets nearly 300 km away from Russia, including at least 30 air bases. But they need to be included in the aircraft that Ukraine has.
US authorities are inclined to supply Ukraine with JASSM long-range cruise missiles. But these deliveries will not take place earlier than a few months, which will be needed to resolve technical issues. Reuters reported this on Saturday, November 23.
The inclusion of JASSM missiles in the weapons package for Ukraine is expected to be announced within a week, three agency sources said. But the final decision has not yet been made.
Officials say the deployment of JASSM missiles to Ukraine could significantly change the strategic landscape of the conflict by placing a large part of Russia in the zone of powerful precision-guided munitions.
Military analysts suggest that the use of stolen JASSM missiles, which can hit further than most missiles Ukraine currently has, could push Russian concentrations and supply depots back of hundreds of miles. This in turn would complicate Russia’s ability to conduct offensive operations and potentially give Ukraine a strategic advantage.
In particular, launching these missiles from points near Ukraine’s northern border with the Russian Federation could allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to reach targets as far as the Russian cities of Voronezh and Bryansk. On the other hand, in the southern direction, dropping missiles near the front line could allow Ukraine to strike airfields or naval facilities in Crimea.
“The JASSM missile could allow Ukraine to hit targets at a distance of about 300 km on Russian territory, including at least 30 air bases, some of which have been used by the Russian Federation to launch strikes,” Reuters clarified.
The agency also wrote that JASSM has so far only been integrated for aircraft built in the United States. Ukraine, in turn, will use several dozen F-16s, each of which can carry two cruise missiles.
A US official said there are attempts to make the missile operational among non-Western fighters, which Ukraine has. However, he did not specify which aircraft he was talking about. It is known that Ukraine uses MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 aircraft.
It was previously reported that US President Joe Biden, two months before the end of his presidential term, for the first time authorized Ukraine to use ATACMS to protect the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia.
After that, France and the UK allowed Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with their SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles, following US agreement on long-range strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ATACMS missiles.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.