US finally sends long-range missiles to Ukraine amidst previous hesitation
After months of resistance, the US has now delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine, a decision that was initially rejected by the Biden administration but was later approved following a directive from President Joe Biden. The Pentagon confirmed the delivery of the missiles earlier this month.
The Pentagon announced that earlier this month, the US provided long-range missiles to Ukraine that were initially denied by the Biden administration following a directive from President Joe Biden.
In February, Biden approved the transfer of the long-range ATACMS missiles for use within Ukraine. These missiles were discreetly included in the $300 million aid package announced on March 12 and were finally delivered to Ukraine earlier this month, confirmed Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn.
"We did not announce that we are giving Ukraine this new capability at this time to protect Ukraine's operational security, as requested by them," Garn explained, directing inquiries about the usage of the capability to Ukraine's military.
The Biden administration had hesitated to send the long-range missiles due to concerns about readiness. These powerful missiles take time and intricate components to manufacture. Lockheed Martin, the company that produces the ATACMS missiles, is currently in full-rate production and makes around 500 missiles per year, as stated by a company spokesperson in September.
The US worked behind the scenes to address the readiness concerns, which included buying more ATACMS missiles and filling US military stocks.
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“As a result, we were able to move forward with this provision of ATACMS while also maintaining the current readiness of our armed forces,” said Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz.
Biden instructed his team to take action after Russia used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine and attacked civilian infrastructure, according to a US official.
"We had cautioned Russia about obtaining North Korean missiles and attacking Ukraine's civilian infrastructure," Dietz explained. "Now that our readiness concerns have been addressed, we were able to act on our warning and give Ukraine this long-range capability."
The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that more missiles will be included in the new military assistance package. This comes after Biden signed into law an aid package providing nearly $61 billion in assistance for Ukraine following delays in Congress.
Last fall, the US sent Ukraine the mid-range variant of the ATACMS missile system, which has a range of about 100 miles. There is also a longer-range version that can reach as far as 190 miles.
Ukrainian officials have been requesting long-range missiles from the US, both privately and publicly, to target deeper behind Russian lines. American officials have hesitated in the past, mentioning supply problems and worries about escalating tensions with Moscow if the missiles are used.
This story has been revised to include more information.
Editor's P/S:
The provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine by the US marks a significant escalation in the conflict. While initially denied due to concerns about readiness, the Biden administration's decision to
