The Biden administration is close to approving the sending of ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) long-range missiles to Ukraine, which will give Kyiv the opportunity to inflict significant damage deeper into Russian-occupied territory, Reuters reports.

The ATACMS missile is launched from the M270 anti-aircraft missile systemPhoto: US Army / Avalon / Profimedia

After seeing the success of the cluster munitions delivered in recent months, the US is considering delivery of one or both of the Army’s Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which can fly up to 306 km, or the GMLRS, which can be armed. with cluster bombs, three US officials said.

White House security spokesman John Kirby in July praised the effectiveness with which the Ukrainian military uses cluster munitions on the front lines.

If approved, any option will be available for expedited delivery to Kyiv.

Currently, Ukraine is armed with 155 mm artillery with a maximum range of almost 30 kilometers, which carries up to 48 bombs. The ATACMS under consideration could launch about 300 or more bombs. The GMLRS missile system, the version that Ukraine has had in service for several months, can deliver up to 404 cluster munitions.

As Ukraine makes progress against Russian forces, the administration is looking to bolster Ukraine’s military at a vital time, two sources said.

The decision to send ATACMS or GMLRS, or both, is not final and could still be made, four sources said. The Biden administration has struggled with a decision on ATACMS for months, fearing that providing them would be perceived as too aggressive a move against Russia.

ATACMS are tactical ballistic missiles with a range of at least 300 km, designed for the M270 MLRS (reactive salvo fire system) and the M142 HIMARS system. By 2007, about 3,700 such missiles had been manufactured.

The Financial Times first reported that US President Joe Biden is on the verge of making a decision to send long-range ATACMS missiles.

“Nothing is excluded. We haven’t made a decision to announce new capabilities, but our position has always been that we will provide Ukraine with capabilities that will allow it to succeed on the battlefield,” Deputy National Security Adviser John Feiner said over the weekend during Joe. Biden’s flight from New Delhi to Vietnam.

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