The Pentagon is considering a proposal from the Boeing company to send small precision bombs to Ukraine that can be launched by publicly available missiles that can strike far behind Russian lines, Reuters writes.

The information, exclusively made public by Reuters journalists, comes in the context of the fact that Western countries’ stockpiles of weapons have begun to empty after they sent numerous weapons to Ukraine to fight the invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24.

Boeing has offered to send a system called the Small Diameter Ground-Based Bomb (GLSDB) to the Ukrainian armed forces, suggesting it could arrive in Kyiv no earlier than spring 2023, according to a document obtained by Reuters reporters and authenticated by 3 people , familiar with the plan.

A major advantage of this system is that it combines the GBU-39 small diameter bomb and the M26 rocket motor, both of which are widely available in the United States arsenal.

The Pentagon is looking for new ways to help Ukraine

Doug Bush, the head of the US military’s arms procurement division, told reporters at the Pentagon last week that the idea of ​​speeding up production of the 155mm projectiles, which are currently produced only at government plants in Washington, is also being considered. .

However, the Pentagon would like private defense contractors to produce these shells, which are desperately needed by the Ukrainian forces.

In addition, Bush said that the invasion launched by Putin has led to increased demand for American ammunition and weapons and from NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

“It’s about getting quantity at low cost,” says Tom Karako, an arms and security specialist at Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He says the emptying of America’s weapons stockpile explains why the Pentagon is now rushing to get more weapons and ammunition, adding that America’s stockpiles “have become relatively low compared to the levels that we want to have on hand and that we will have with the necessary security.” later to keep China from starting a conflict.”

Karako also notes that the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan has left numerous aerial bombs in warehouses, although they cannot be easily used by aircraft that are at Ukraine’s disposal.

But “in today’s conditions, we need to look for creative ways to transform them,” says the expert.

Advantages of Boeing’s GLSDB systems

Although Boeing has already produced some GLSDB systems, there are many obstacles before they can reach Kyiv. The U.S. company’s proposed plan forgoes a thorough cost review, ensuring the Pentagon gets the best possible deal.

Its approval could cause discontent in the US Congress, as a significant group of elected Republicans has already called for an audit of arms supplies to Ukraine.

Any deal would also require at least 6 suppliers to expedite the supply of components and services for rapid production of GLSDB systems.

While the United States has so far rejected Kyiv’s request to provide it with the ATACMS missile system, which has a range of nearly 300 kilometers, the GLSDB system’s maximum range of 150 kilometers is nearly double the range of missiles sent so far for HIMARS launchers and will allow Ukrainian forces to strike high-value Russian targets far behind the front line.

GLSDB systems are produced by Boeing in partnership with the Swedish arms company SAAB, their development began back in 2019.

The GBU-39 bombs, which will be used in the systems’ warheads, have small folding wings that allow them to hover over 100 kilometers when launched from an aircraft and can hit targets up to one meter in diameter.

Additionally, each bomb costs only $40,000, a very low price compared to other weapons supplied to Ukraine, and the rocket engine used by the GLSDB is available in large quantities in US weapons stockpiles.

Follow the latest events of the 278th day of the war in Ukraine LIVETEXT on HOTNEWS.RO.