Despite rumors, US may not provide Ukraine with 300km-range ATACMS
WASHINGTON — Currently, there are no Army Tactical Missile System [ATACMS] deployed on the territory of Ukraine, and the probability that they will be deployed in the future is small. This is made clear by the statement of a senior defense official during a press conference at the Pentagon on July 8, 2022.
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“They [Ukrainians – ed.] have asked for capabilities to help them prosecute the — the current battle in the Donbas, and that is what we are providing with the HIMARS and the GMLRS,” said the senior defense official in response to a question of a journalist
The Pentagon’s official response makes it clear that for the US, providing the ATACMS is a “red line” that they cannot cross, especially because with such a missile system, the Ukrainians will have the opportunity to attack the territory of the Russian Federation, something that Washington does not want, as it will not only deepen the conflict but most likely go beyond the borders of Ukraine.
“This would be a completely new capability [ATACMS in Ukraine – ed]. This would open up all sorts of possibilities, including the removal of the Crimean bridge. Perhaps this is an escalation that the US is afraid of,” experts commented on BulgarianMilitary.com, continuing “ATACMS is a maneuvering missile, meaning it´s hard to shoot down. Russia has already shown its inability to shoot down GMLRS 31 missiles that HIMARS uses. It is also very accurate. Might take several hits tho.”
155mm artillery rounds
During the press conference, it became clear that daily Ukraine spends approximately 3,000 artillery rounds of 155 mm in the defense of its territory. BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that the M777 towed howitzer supplied by the USA, Australia, and Canada, as well as the French Caesar self-propelled howitzer are the guns using 155mm artillery rounds.
About ATACMS
ATACMS is a tactical ballistic missile. It was put into service in the early 1990s, and currently, only four countries have the privilege of being armed with it: the United States, South Korea, Turkey, and Greece.
As it has already become clear, the range of the missile is 300 km, but to be more precise: during tests, it achieved an operational capability of 310-320 km. The missile has documented participation in several conflicts: Persian Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, Iraq War.
Its main characteristics are as follows: its wingspan is 55 inches [1.4 m], its flight ceiling is 160,000 ft [50 km], its maximum speed is in excess of Mach 3 [0.6 mi/s; 1.0 km/s], and the missile’s guidance system is configured by GPS-aided inertial navigation guidance.
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