US lawmakers want the US to provide Ukraine with at least $80m worth of ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles with a launch range of up to 300km

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been asking the US for ATACMS ballistic missiles for the highly mobile M142 HIMARS artillery system since last summer. However, Washington has limited the supplies to GMLRS and GLSDB projectiles only. Deliveries of the latter are expected at the end of this year. This week the situation received a new development.

Here's What We Know

The US House Committee on Armed Services is trying to force the administration to provide Ukraine with tactical ballistic missiles ATACMS with a maximum launch range of 300 km.

In a footnote to the FY2024 defence policy bill, the committee calls for using a minimum of $80m to buy ATACMS missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Note that FY2024 in the USA starts on 1 October 2023 calendar year.

US President Joe Biden has been under prolonged pressure from lawmakers. The refusals have been attributed to the US desire to prevent escalation with the Russian Federation and the depletion of US reserves.

US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth commented on the new bill. She said she was not authorised to talk about supplying weapons systems to Ukraine, but did not think US attitudes regarding ATACMS had changed. A member of the committee said on condition of anonymity that the new amendment would require the transfer of new missiles to Ukraine, not from existing stocks.

Source: Defence News