US 'open' to provide Ukraine with long-range JASSM missiles for F-16s
Illustrative photo: The US is ready to provide Ukraine with new missiles for F-16s (Getty Images)
Ukraine may receive JASSM air-to-surface missiles for F-16s from the US. Washington is "open" to such supplies, Politico.
According to one White House staff member, a decision on the missile supply has not yet been made, as the Biden administration is working through "complicated details." These involve checking the transfer of sensitive technologies and ensuring that Ukrainian aircraft can launch such missiles.
According to a Politico source, significant work will be required before the missiles can be supplied. In particular, it must be confirmed that the aircraft available to Ukraine, including the F-16s, can use JASSM for targets at a range of approximately 370 kilometers.
Two sources informed the journalists that the Pentagon is already working with Ukraine on these technical issues.
At the same time, the Pentagon declined to comment on whether the department has approved the supply of JASSM to Ukraine.
"We consider a range of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance requirements, however we have no information to provide," said Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen.
What is known about JASSM
According to Politico, JASSM missiles, developed by the American company Lockheed Martin, were first used in the early 2000s. The US has rarely used them in combat.
These missiles have been provided to only a few close US allies, including Poland, Australia, and Finland. Japan and the Netherlands signed agreements to purchase the missiles in July, with delivery expected in the coming years. Germany, Greece, Romania, and Denmark are also negotiating the purchase of these missiles.
JASSM missiles can destroy targets within a range of 370 kilometers. There is also a modified version of the missile that can reach targets at a distance of 980 kilometers.
If Ukraine receives JASSM missiles, they would be the most long-range missiles in its arsenal. So far, allies have only provided Ukrainian defenders with missiles capable of reaching targets within a range of 300 kilometers.
It’s worth noting that the US has not lifted restrictions on Ukraine for strikes on Russian territory. Specifically, Ukrainian forces are not allowed to use long-range weapons for this purpose. However, Washington’s position may be influenced by the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region. More details on this are available in the RBC-Ukraine material.
