2023-09-11 19:05:00
The United States should soon deliver ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, assistance kyiv has requested for several months.
By Matthieu Heyman An ATACMS missile, like this one, can strike a target up to 300 kilometers away. © HANDOUT / South Korean Defense Ministry / AFP Published on 09/11/2023 at 7:05 p.m.
“They are coming,” said two anonymous US officials, whose comments were reported by ABC News. Requested for a long time by Ukraine, the United States should soon supply ATACMS missiles (Army Tactical Missile System).
In July 2022, Jake Sullivan, national security adviser, had however refuted the idea of such a delivery, fearing that it would push Russia to intensify the conflict.
A range of up to 300 km
This missile has features that are of great interest to kyiv. Firstly, its range: up to 300 kilometers. The Ukrainians could then strike almost all of the territory occupied by the Russians, including a good part of Crimea. An interesting weapon when you know that kyiv is trying to undermine the Russian supply chain by hitting the back of the front. “The Ukrainians could target command posts, arms depots, air bases, communications nodes or ground-to-air batteries,” explains Joseph Henrotin, editor of the specialized journal International Defense and Security (DSI).
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Another advantage, the ATACMS missiles can be fired by M-142 Himars launchers that Ukraine has already had in dozens of copies for more than a year.
A weapon that could tip the war?
While obtaining these missiles will delight Ukraine, the ATACMS missiles alone will not change the course of the war. “It’s the addition of different abilities that produces effects. The wider the range of capacities, the greater the freedom of action for planners, specifies Joseph Henrotin. There is also a numerical effect: the more long-range missiles delivered, the more targets can be dealt with. »
No information has leaked on the number of missiles that the United States should deliver. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, specified that the ATACMS would not target Russian territory.
Long-range missiles have proved crucial. This is why Taurus and ATACMS are essential for Ukraine’s success, and we ask partners to provide them as soon as possible. Both will be used solely inside our borders. The longer the missile range, the shorter the war.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) August 11, 2023
German missiles as the next delivery?
This is not the first time that Ukraine has received long-range missiles from its Western partners. Britain and France delivered Storm Shadows and Scalp missiles, respectively, earlier this year. “The effects are different: an ATACMS will hit less far but its flight is faster; it is therefore possible to deal with fleeting targets and the probability of being intercepted in flight is lower. Taken from the ground, an ATACMS does not involve risking losing a combat aircraft,” concludes Joseph Henrotin.
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After Great Britain, France and the United States, Germany could soon deliver its missiles. Discussions are underway between Berlin and kyiv for the delivery of Taurus missiles. Germany has 600 copies.
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