The Biden administration is reportedly nearing a decision to supply Ukraine with AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM).
Hard to Detect
This potential delivery represents a significant enhancement to Ukraine’s military capabilities and could alter the dynamics of the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to WP.
While the decision has not yet been officially confirmed, President Biden is eager to send these advanced munitions, which are expected to be integrated with F-16 fighter jets previously pledged to Ukraine. However, the transfer process could take several months due to various technical issues that need to be resolved.
The JASSM missile is a modern, stealthy cruise missile with a range of approximately 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) for the standard version and over 1,000 kilometers (about 621 miles) for the extended-range variant (JASSM-ER).
Its design features make it difficult for enemy forces to detect and intercept, making it a formidable asset for Ukraine’s military operations.
Other Crucial Defenses
In addition to the JASSM, several other weapons have played crucial roles in Ukraine’s defense since the onset of the conflict.
Among them are precision-guided artillery shells, which were vital in the early days of the war. Ukraine initially relied on domestically produced Kwitnyk missiles and later adapted captured Russian 30F39 Krasnopol munitions.
Another significant development was the introduction of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which temporarily disrupted Russian logistics and supply lines through its GMLRS rockets, capable of striking targets up to 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) away.
However, the effectiveness of HIMARS has waned as Russia has ramped up its electronic warfare efforts.
