US officials are asking the war-torn nation to clearly outline its combat objectives for requesting expanded use of US-supplied long-range missiles.

Ukraine has stated that it plans to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles), to strike Russian airfields, command centers, and weapons depots deep in enemy territory.

President Joe Biden’s administration currently allows Kyiv to use the weapon only for strikes within Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

US officials remain skeptical that lifting the restrictions would have a significant impact on the war, noting that it may also come with greater risks.

Growing Pressure

The US has been facing increasing pressure from NATO allies to allow Kyiv greater freedom to hit targets inside Russia to level the battlefield.

Moscow’s forces have been using long-range aircraft, missiles, and drones to attack Ukraine, quickly gaining the upper hand in the ongoing war.

Washington has expressed concerns that doing so would further escalate the war and allow Russia to reverse-engineer some of America’s most sophisticated weapons.

It has also argued that the Ukrainian military is already using long-range drones to strike deep into Russia, which is a cheaper and more strategic method than firing costly missiles.

Additionally, the White House downplayed the capabilities of its ATACMS, stating they would be ineffective now because Moscow has likely moved its most immediate threats to facilities beyond the missile’s range.

“I don’t believe one capability is going to be decisive, and I stand by that comment,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed.

Russian Warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any strikes using Western weapons deep inside its territory will lead to a significant change in the nature of the conflict.

He said such a move would be viewed as an escalation of the war, making the US and its NATO allies directly involved.

“And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us,” Putin told reporters.

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According to two European diplomats who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, Kyiv initially requested that Washington allow the use of its ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, to strike Russian airfields housing glide bomb-carrying warplanes.

However, US National Security Advisor John Kirby argued that the requested targets are well beyond the missile’s effective range, which is only 300 kilometers (186 miles).

“We’ve done the math on this — 90% of them (Russian airfields) lie outside 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, deep inside Russia,” he noted.

As a result, the sources said Kyiv revised its target list to focus on Russian military command centers, fuel and weapons depots, and troop concentrations, hoping to persuade the US to permit strikes deeper into enemy territory.

‘Working That Out’

While Kirby already indicated there will be no change in US policy regarding the weapons it supplied to Ukraine, President Joe Biden has hinted at the possibility of authorizing it amid Moscow’s increasing aggression.

He told reporters last week, “We’re working that out right now,” after his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly called for the restrictions to be lifted.

Biden also recently met with newly installed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss the matter, signaling openness to consider Kyiv’s persistent request.

Meanwhile, some US officials are skeptical about the impact of granting Ukraine greater freedom to use Western weapons.

They argued that Moscow has likely moved its most immediate threats to facilities beyond the range of US-supplied missiles.

Additionally, they noted that Kyiv already uses kamikaze drones for deep strikes into Russia, which are significantly cheaper than the ATACMS or other long-range weapons.

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White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said that the ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, is ineffective against Russian warplanes used for long-range strikes in Ukraine.

He explained that the aircraft are stationed deep within enemy territory, beyond the range of the long-range weapon, which has a maximum reach of 300 kilometers (186 miles).

“We’ve done the math on this — 90% of them lie outside 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, deep inside Russia,” Kirby said.

“So, the argument that somehow, if you just give [Ukrainians] an ATACMS and tell them ‘It’s okay’ [to strike deep] that they’re going to be able to go in and hit the majority of the Russian aircraft … is not true; it’s a misconception.”

No Change in Policy

While some of Kyiv’s allies have lifted restrictions on their donated weapons, the US remains firm in its decision that its transferred armaments can only be used for Ukraine’s defense.

In May, President Joe Biden temporarily eased the policy, but only for strikes on Russian-controlled Ukrainian territories.

Kirby said that while the US is committed to helping Ukraine win the war, it will continue its policy to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

“Nothing’s changed about our view that Ukraine should be able to use the tools it has available to defend itself, and that’s why air defense continues to be a prominent issue in these security packages that we’re giving,” he noted.

Despite Washington’s stance, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will continue to press the US to allow Kyiv’s forces to target military assets deep within Russian territory.

The post ATACMS Ineffective Against Aircraft Stationed Deep in Russia: US appeared first on The Defense Post.

The African country was among the five nations covered by a new $227-million contract for the supply of the Lockheed Martin-manufactured weapons.

Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland were also included in the order.

According to the US Department of Defense, Rabat and the four other countries will also receive launch systems as part of the agreement.

Work for the contract is expected to be complete by late 2028.

In 2023, Washington said the Moroccan government requested 40 ATACMS and 18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers used to fire the missiles.

The estimated value of the original request was $524.3 million.

Moving Away From China?

Morocco is a major importer of Chinese-made defense systems.

In the past couple of years, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces procured advanced military drones and anti-tank missiles from Beijing.

It also has a military base with a Chinese long-range air defense system.

However, the approval of the ATACMS sale to the North African nation is expected to boost its ties with the US.

Additionally, the sale will significantly enhance Morocco’s long-range strike capabilities, as the US-made weapon can hit targets up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.

“This agreement will strengthen the deterrence capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces with this type of weapon in integration with all land, air, and naval forces,” defense expert Hisham Moataded told Atalayar.

“Moroccan forces are committed to strengthening military tactics in order to defend Moroccan sovereignty.”

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State-owned RIA news agency recently published a video showing a weapons expert examining what was said to be an intact guidance and flight correction system from the US-manufactured weapon.

It claimed that the cutting-edge technology was obtained after Moscow’s forces shot down a long-range ATACMS missile fired from Ukrainian territory.

In the video, the unidentified weapons expert showed the label on the back of the alleged GPS guidance system, which indicated that it came from a US Army store in Alabama.

He said that the seized ATACMS component will allow Russia to study how the missiles are controlled mid-flight.

Identifying Weak Spots

Retired Russian Army officer and military analyst Viktor Litovkin said reverse-engineering the alleged ATACMS component could allow Russia to identify the weapon’s weaknesses.

This could also provide the invading forces with enough data to develop an effective countermeasure.

At the end of the analysis, Litovkin disclosed that Russian scientists may be expected to issue recommendations on improving the country’s missile defense systems or its jamming capabilities.

“The military will use this information to attack these missiles and the launchers that fire these missiles. It is possible that after studying this missile, [Russia] would be able to discover the launch areas and location of these missiles faster,” he added.

‘No Longer a Secret’

The US has provided Ukraine with ATACMS to strike Russian facilities and troop concentrations hundreds of miles away from the frontline.

The decision was not easy, as Washington had long been reluctant to provide Kyiv with sophisticated long-range weapons over concerns that they could be used to target deep into Russia or that the invading forces could capture and reverse-engineer them.

But with Moscow’s recent claim, Litovkin said the European nation may be sending a strong message that Western military technology “is no longer a secret for us.”

“We have shown everyone that we have found an ‘antidote’ to the most vaunted and promoted Western types of military equipment, and we are using it effectively,” he stated.

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The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this after Moscow complained about a recent attack using US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) that killed four people on a Sevastopol beach.

This report comes as Western allies have gradually permitted Kyiv to strike deep into Russia using their donated weapons.

According to the ISW, the invading forces have previously utilized this strategy by placing military targets near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and schools to serve as “shields.”

With this deliberate act, Russia is reportedly breaking its own humanitarian law, which states that military commands must refrain from placing assets in or near densely populated areas.

Recent Attack

On Sunday, the Russian defense ministry said five ATACMS reached civilian areas in occupied Crimea where Moscow has its Black Sea Fleet headquarters.

Four of the missiles were reportedly intercepted, while the fifth deviated from its trajectory and exploded midair over the city.

The ministry claimed that the weapons had cluster warheads and the fragments injured more than 20 civilians.

Moscow blamed the US for the deadly attack because it supplied the missile with cluster munitions.

Alleged Violations

Since the invasion began in February 2022, Russia has allegedly committed numerous war crimes, including murders and unlawful attacks against civilian targets.

In August 2023, Russian shelling in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson killed seven people, including a newborn baby.

Moscow’s troops have also reportedly been using chemical weapons in Ukraine in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The post Russia Moving Military Assets Near Civilians to Avoid Ukraine Strikes: Intel appeared first on The Defense Post.

A missile exploded above a beach area of the city of Sevastopol, firing shrapnel at people relaxing there, Russian-appointed officials said.

Russia’s defense ministry said Washington and Kyiv bore “responsibility for a deliberate missile strike on peaceful residents,” which it said used US-supplied ATACMS missiles.

Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev initially said in a Telegram video the attack had killed three children and two adults, and wounded nearly 120 people.

He later revised the toll to four dead and 151 people requiring medical care, of whom 82 had been hospitalized.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had called to “offer his condolences,” Razvozhayev added.

The Black Sea port city and naval base on the Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 but is still internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.

Sevastopol regularly comes under fire from Ukraine but Sunday’s attack was unusually deadly. Razvozhayev said the attack hit Uchkuyevka, an area with sandy beaches and hotels.

Videos posted on social media showed people running from the beach as explosions went off and people in swimming outfits carrying a stretcher. AFP could not verify their authenticity.

A local news channel on Telegram, ChP Sevastopol, cited witnesses as saying that an elderly woman was killed as she swam in the sea.

Washington said in April that it had provided longer-range ATACMS missile systems to Kyiv, which had long urged allies for weapons allowing it to strike Russia farther beyond the front lines.

Neither the US nor Ukraine had commented on the Sevastopol strike.

‘Terrorist Act’

The investigative committee, which probes major crimes, said it was opening an investigation into “a terrorist act.”

The governor said Ukraine had launched five missiles that Russian air-defenses intercepted over the sea but fragments fell onto the shore, wounding people.

Razvozhayev said shrapnel hit beach areas in the north of the city and set fire to a house and woodland.

A Russian defense ministry statement said Ukraine had committed a “terrorist attack on the civilian infrastructure of Sevastopol with US-supplied ATACMS tactical missiles loaded with cluster warheads.”

The ministry said four missiles were downed but a fifth changed trajectory after being intercepted “with its warhead exploding in the air over the city.”

It added that “all flight missions for US ATACMS are entered by US specialists based on the US’s own satellite reconnaissance data.

“Such actions will not be left without a response,” the ministry said.

Ukraine’s military has not commented on the attack, which came a day after a Russian guided bomb strike on the city of Kharkiv hit an apartment building, killing two people and wounding more than 50. 

Deaths in Belgorod, Russia

On Sunday, Russian strikes hit a house and a children’s educational facility in Kharkiv, killing one person and injuring 10 including two teenagers, regional governor Oleg Synegubov said.

In the Belgorod region on Sunday, three Ukrainian attack drones struck Graivoron, near the border with Ukraine, said governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, with one hitting a car park near a multi-storey block of flats.

“A peaceful civilian was killed. The man died from his wounds at the spot” and three people were wounded, Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a social media post urged supporter countries to help Ukraine step up attacks on Russian soil.

“We have enough determination to destroy terrorists on their territory – it is only fair – and we need the same determination from our partners. We can stop Russia,” Zelensky wrote.

In his evening address he added: “The recent approval of strikes on Russian territory – near the border – made it possible to destroy part of Russia’s terrorist potential.”

But, he said, “we need more long-range weapons, we need appropriate weapons for Ukrainians.”

Ukraine’s energy operator Ukrenergo announced that rolling electricity blackouts would be imposed nationwide throughout Monday because of increased Russian attacks on power stations.

The post Russia Blames US for Deadly Missile Attack on Crimea appeared first on The Defense Post.

Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024 in Paris, the highly mobile missile artillery system leverages Rheinmetall’s renowned HX 8×8 truck and Lockheed’s two-pod multiple rocket launcher.

It can fire a variety of combat-proven weapons, such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family of munitions, the long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

It also boasts an integrated fire control system that helps provide precise fire support at distances exceeding 400 kilometers (248 miles).

Range matters – #Rheinmetall and @Lockheed Martin present Global Mobile #Artillery #Rocket System at #Eurosatory2024https://t.co/1xMGiiulJE @cogeseurosatory pic.twitter.com/mydYaGPLKN

— Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) June 17, 2024

Additionally, the GMARS utilizes a GPS-supported navigation system to ensure accuracy in both short- and long-range engagements.

“Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin joined forces in 2023 to combine their individual strengths and developed a GMARS as a solution for the growing demand for long-range rocket artillery,” Rheinmetall said.

‘Shoot-and-Scoot’ Capability

Among the most important features of the new rocket launcher is its “shoot-and-scoot capability,” which allows the system to quickly move away from the firing location to avoid counter-fire.

Weighing less than 40 tons, the GMARS can achieve a maximum speed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour and range of 700 kilometers (434 miles) on roads.

This strategic mobility enhances the survivability of its two-person crew, according to Rheinmetall.

Any country that uses MLRS and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) would not have difficulty absorbing the new weapon.

The developers said the GMARS could soon be able to fire surface-launch cruise missiles and 122-millimeter rockets thanks to its flexibility in supporting multi-domain operations.

At least four potential European customers are reportedly in discussions to acquire the system.

The post Lockheed, Rheinmetall Unveil Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System appeared first on The Defense Post.

A study is being drafted to assess all tactical ballistic missile options, including the in-development PrSM, according to Greek daily Kathimerini.

Considerations include benefits, costs, and the acquisition and integration process.

Ukraine war’s lessons will also be examined for the assessment as rocket artillery demonstrated its utility in taking out long-range targets.

According to Kathimerini, an army delegation is visiting the US in the coming weeks on an invitation to observe a live-fire exercise of HIMARS.

The visit’s focus is to witness the PrSM in action, the outlet added.

Need to Upgrade MLRS

According to Kathimerini, an upgraded MLRS is required for the missile’s employment. 

Therefore, the Hellenic Army is considering upgrading two thirds of its fleet of 36 MLRS to the A2 level, expected to cost around 1.1 billion euros ($1.18 billion).

Another option is to upgrade only one third of the fleet, with a parallel procurement of new missiles.

Precision Strike Missile

A replacement for the Army Tactical Missile System, the PrSM features a sleeker design and longer range of over 400 kilometers (248 miles).

It can be launched from both the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).

The US Army received the first PrSM late last year. Initial operational capability is expected in 2025.

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Biden has come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag NATO into direct conflict with Moscow.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them,” a US official said on condition of anonymity.

“Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long range strikes inside of Russia has not changed,” the official said, referring to long-range missiles recently sent by Washington to Kyiv.

A second US official confirmed Biden’s change of policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing Kyiv’s supporters – chiefly the United States – to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit targets on Russian soil.

Some countries including Britain and the Netherlands say Kyiv has the right to use their weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had hinted on Wednesday that Biden could change course.

Blinken said the United States had “adapted and adjusted” as the “battlefield has changed,” as he spoke to reporters on a visit to Moldova on the eve of NATO talks in Prague.

Blinken, who traveled to Kyiv earlier this month to see the increasingly grave situation as Russia pushes forward towards Kharkiv, had been widely reported to be pressing Biden to ease the rules.

Ahead of the NATO meeting, which starts with a dinner on Thursday, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said repeatedly it was time for members to reconsider those limits because they hampered Kyiv’s ability to defend itself.

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift the dial forward on Tuesday when he said Ukraine should be allowed to “neutralize” bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remained less sure, saying Ukraine should act within the law – and Berlin had not supplied weapons that could hit Russia anyway.

Pressure has also been mounting ahead of a series of key meetings in Europe in coming weeks where Kyiv’s plight will be in focus.

Biden will attend ceremonies in France marking the World War II D-Day landings in early June where Ukraine’s Zelensky will also be present.

The US president will also meet leaders of the world’s top economies at the G7 summit in Italy.

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