Ukraine may receive US ERAM missiles this year — CNN
Photo: American ERAM missile (wikipedia.org)
ERAM missiles, whose delivery to Kyiv has been approved by the US State Department, may begin arriving in Ukraine by the end of this year, according to CNN.
According to the agency, the announcement of the proposed contract came on Thursday amid diplomatic efforts to end the war, still yielding no results, and nighttime Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital again resulted in casualties.
According to a source familiar with the situation, if the deal goes through, missiles with a range of 150 to 280 miles (241-450 km) could be delivered to Ukraine by the end of this year. It is not yet clear whether there will be restrictions on their use.
The US has stated that the sale of these weapons supports US foreign policy and national interests by strengthening the security of a partner country that is a factor in political stability and economic development in Europe.
The deal is to be financed by contributions from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, as well as funds from the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
ERAM missiles
The SM-6 ERAM (Extended Range Active Missile) is an American guided missile of the Standard Missile (SM) family, which is a key element of the Aegis air and missile defense system.
Its main advantage is its versatility. The missile is capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic targets in the terminal phase of flight, as well as striking surface ships.
This versatility is achieved through a combination of an active radar homing head and guidance from the ship's radar.
The SM-6 has a range of over 240 km and a speed of approximately Mach 3.5, enabling it to effectively combat even high-speed threats.
The missile has been in service with the US Navy since 2013 and has been upgraded several times to increase its effectiveness, particularly against hypersonic weapons.
The SM-6 is launched from Mk 41 VLS universal launchers, which are located on Aegis-class cruisers and destroyers.
Due to its capabilities, it is often referred to as a three-in-one missile — anti-aircraft, anti-missile, and anti-ship at the same time.
Yesterday, it became known that the US State Department approved the sale of 3,350 extended-range missiles (ERAM) to Ukraine for $825 million.
