NewsUkraine boosts firepower with U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles

Ukraine boosts firepower with U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor to the President of the U.S., confirmed reports that Ukraine has received ATACMS missiles. He also detailed the reasons for transferring these weapons back in March.

Americans delivered weapons to Ukraine. All because of the shelling by Russia.

Images source: © Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla

JAR

4:32 PM EDT, April 25, 2024

This news is a significant development for Ukraine. As "Ukrainska Pravda" reports, the country has now been equipped with ATACMS missiles from the United States.

ATACMS are large missiles developed by Lockheed Martin. They are approximately 13 feet in length and weigh over 1.5 tons. These missiles earned their reputation during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The U.S. began delivering these missiles in March as part of the PDA package, a mechanism that allows the president to transfer weapons from military stockpiles. The president approved this decision on March 12.

Jake Sullivan mentioned that in February, President Joe Biden ordered the transfer of a significant number of ATACMS missiles for use within Ukraine's sovereign territory.

He went on to explain that the decision to provide ATACMS came after Russia utilized ballistic missiles from North Korea against Ukraine and escalated the bombing of civilian infrastructure.

Sullivan also highlighted that initial hesitations regarding the provision of ATACMS were based on concerns about combat readiness. These concerns were addressed by ordering many missiles from the manufacturer.

How does the supplied weapon work?

The missiles are designed to deliver powerful strikes against the enemy, similar to the capabilities of the Iskanders used by Russia. However, they do not require special, heavy launchers for operation.

Ukraine can launch these missiles using the lighter HIMARS systems it already possesses. With a range of up to 300 km (about 186 miles), these missiles enable Ukraine to target locations beyond the reach of traditional artillery, such as command centers or critical infrastructure.