The United States has delayed the shipment of long-range aerial bombs to Ukraine until 2024. These GPS-guided bombs, known for their capability to hit targets nearly 160 kilometers away, were initially expected to be delivered earlier.
According to Reuters, which cited informed sources from the U.S. Department of Defense, the first large batch of these bombs will now be sent in early 2024, following successful verification.
The delay is attributed to the postponement of the production start, as the contract to begin manufacturing the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) by Boeing was only signed in March 2023.
Production of the GLSDB required specific materials provided by the government, leading to the postponement.
The delivery of these weapons is now slated for the end of December, followed by several months of testing before they are finally dispatched to Ukraine.
The introduction of the GLSDB to the Ukrainian military is significant as it would allow them to strike targets at twice the range of the missiles they currently fire from the U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
This capability is expected to compel Russia to move its logistical operations even further from the front lines.
