Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle and Gerry Doyle – Reuters Sept 3, 2024
- Stealthy JASSM weapons have range to hit targets inside Russia
- Decision expected in autumn, U.S. officials say
- Pentagon trying to integrate JASSMs on Soviet-era Ukrainian jets
WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) – The U.S. is close to an agreement to give Ukraine long-range cruise missiles that could reach deep into Russia, but Kyiv would need to wait several months as the U.S. works through technical issues ahead of any shipment, U.S. officials said.
The inclusion of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) in a weapons package is expected to be announced this autumn, three sources said, though a final decision has not been made. The sources declined to be named because they are not authorized to discuss the topic.
Sending JASSMs to Ukraine could significantly alter the strategic landscape of the conflict by putting more of Russia in range of powerful, precision-guided munitions, an important concern of the Biden administration, the officials said.
Military analysts have suggested the introduction of JASSMs – which are stealthy and can strike further than most other missiles in Ukraine’s current inventory – could push Russian staging areas and supply depots back by hundreds of miles.
This would severely complicate Russia’s ability to sustain its offensive operations and potentially provide Ukraine with a strategic advantage.
Launching them from points near Ukraine’s northern border with Russia could allow them to hit military installations as far away as the Russian cities of Voronezh and Bryansk. In the south, dropping them near the front lines could enable strikes on airfields or naval facilities in Crimea.
The JASSM has so far only been integrated into U.S.-designed aircraft. Ukraine will ultimately operate several dozen F-16s, each of which can carry two of the cruise missiles.
One of the U.S. officials said there were efforts to make the missile operable with non-Western fighter jets in Ukraine’s inventory, which has not been reported previously. Although the official did not provide further detail on which jets in Ukraine’s inventory JASSM could be used with, they operate Soviet-era MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 jets.
Politico reported last month the Biden administration was “open” to giving Ukraine JASSMs.
Ukraine’s need for more arms, and more powerful weaponry, is growing as it continues to face intense pressure from Russian forces along its eastern front.
Older-model JASSMs, which are made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) have a range of about 230 miles (370 km). The missiles, about 14 feet (4 m) long, are designed to be somewhat stealthy, making them difficult to spot on radar. They can also fly close to the ground and can be programmed to take circuitous routes that avoid air defenses.
There is also a longer-range JASSM missile that can fly more than 500 miles. Reuters could not immediately establish which of the two types Washington was considering, but providing the shorter-range missiles would put less strain on its stockpiles.
Giving Ukraine JASSMs would also add pressure for Washington to drop restrictions on how Ukraine uses U.S. weaponry because their effects would be limited if they were not cleared for use on targets inside Russia, said a congressional staffer who works on the issue.
The U.S. has been reluctant to supply weapons that could strike targets deep inside in Russia for fear it would escalate the conflict. Kyiv’s allies have been supplying weapons but with restrictions on how and when they can be used inside Russia, out of concern such strikes could prompt retaliation that draws NATO countries into the war or provokes a nuclear conflict.
Each JASSM has a large, 1,000-pound warhead, but unlike the Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles already provided to Kyiv by Britain and France, it is not explicitly designed to penetrate hardened bunkers. The newest versions cost about $1 million each.
Global Positioning System (GPS) signals and an inertial navigation system provide guidance. When it nears its target, an infrared imaging seeker can help steer it to an impact point with an accuracy of about 10 feet (3 m).
Although older models might be less resistant to electronic warfare than the current iteration of JASSM, the infrared seeker would help it find its target even amid heavy jamming, said George William Herbert of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in California.
“They’re pretty stealthy, but not completely designed around maximum stealth,” Herbert said. “A few years ago, a bunch were fired at Syria after chemical weapons incidents, and Russian air defense systems in the country failed to shoot many down, possibly none of them.
“I would expect that carefully planned missile flight paths would let JASSM be effective almost anywhere in the war area.”
Britain is a spent force, its now an old toothless lion
2 world wars mass immigration since 1945
and corrupt politicians have meant its national spirit has been crushed
We are nothing on the world stage, but our politicians have given many millions to Ukraine
what has that to do with us ? bad Boris before leaving office gave another 300 million
that was desperately needed at home.
We cant even look after our own people.
The government gave us the covid experience the killoff jab, and yet all migrants coming
in were not pressured to have it
Our government has sent troops out to fight for ukraine and israel
two rogue states, and is going to get us nuked
for something we should not be involved in
Our economy is about to collapse banks are closing their doors
your money in the bank will be stolen
Bible quote Matthew 25-29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, even he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.
The supermarkets are not in competition they are one big jewish cartel
and one day soon they will shut their doors, starvation is not just for Palestine and Germany in ww 2 its earmarked for us, Stalin said starvation is the tool of communism and its on the way for the UK.
Doesa bear shit in the woods ?
does the pope nob little boys ?
is Carl Jonesa complete twat ?
you betcha
What jets? Where will this work be done, assuming the Nazis still have Soviet jets?
I hear pundits say Putin doesn’t need to use nukes, I order to win, but that begs the question, win what?
Putin is a very weak wartime leader, and his passive stance just encourages the Nazis to escalate, and to what point are those behind Putin, willing to tolerate this escalation?
Putin could have ended Nazi NATOs ambitions on day 7/8/9 of the SMO, he could’ve nuked Nazi UK, and stopped this inexorable slide to a nuclear WW3.
Someone needs to replace Putin, it’s glaringly obvious, and I might add, the Nazis were never serious about arresting Putin in Mongolia. Any such move would’ve been instant nuclear karma.
These Yankee and Ukie planners must be military and intellectual lightweights. Since when ever in human history has one adversary informed the other of his plans months in advance? Planning a new development in the field should remain secret until it is launched and hopefully takes the enemy by surprise. It’s also useful to know if he wasn’t surprised you’ve likely got a spy or a traitor somewhere.
Now Russia has plenty of time to consider its responses and weigh up all the in’s and out’s. There’ll be no response on the fly if ever the US fires these missiles then says it wasn’t me, mister. Oh yes it was.
The Jew-USA is begging to get its ass whipped by Russia! It’s astounding how the west can think it can fight Russia – and survive! Or China. Or Iran. The US can’t whip the Houthis! Couldn’t whip the Taliban after 20 years! The US is a Jew-run impotent joke! It ain’t whippin’ no one’s ass! And the rest of the west is even worse! All Jew-run. Broke, in debt and goin’ DOWN!
Russia is on the scam too. He is surrounded by Chabad Lubavitch gangsters. I guess someone didn’t get the memo.
It is one big globalist kubuki theater shit show. I guess some folks are slow learners.
https://yandex.com/images/touch/search?source=tabbar&text=putin+and+chabad+lubavitch&img_url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FPlg3tXEXOj0%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&pos=4&rpt=simage
https://cont.ws/uploads/posts/2514862.jpg
@ DIAMBERT
GET RID OF ALL YOUR POLICE MASONRY !
they are peoples best payed enemies defending not
you people but the traitors . so police are TRAITORS !
you find out where they live , burn their houses !
give them sleepless nights !
@ DILAMBERT
no stupid unmasked fights in daytime !
most idiots ways
what is wrong with that carl jones guy
secret natzis ?
you need professional help
Yeah, sure. Send the JASSM hardware but get ready to see Washington DC go up in smoke from Russian super submarines. How stupid to write and article and leave these realities out of the picture. Attack Russia and get your ass kicked, what a great way to enjoy war.
It’s all about satan and his followers trying to ruin and trick as many souls as possible.
If nukes are used all bets are off.
And personally I dont even think they exist, it’s just another thing to keep the plebs in fear.
Who says “Nazi” a lot? Yids, Commies and C. Jones