When Ukraine will receive 150km GLSDB missiles for HIMARS and MLRS

The United States is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $2 billion. This time it will include long-range missiles for the first time, but the wait will be long.

Here's What We Know

Ukraine will receive Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) missiles with a launch range of up to 150 km. This was first talked about late last year, but more substantive talks began only a few weeks ago.

The GLSDB shells in the new military aid package will cost approximately $200 million. However, they will not be delivered to Ukraine until nine months later. This is due to the fact that GLSDBs are new projectiles and Boeing has not yet set up serial production. Due to the fact that they will not be transferred from stocks, funds will be allocated through the USAI fund.

Flashback

The GLSDB has an M26 rocket engine and a 115kg GBU-39/B SDB small-diameter guided bomb. Guidance is provided by GPS and an inertial navigation system. GLSDB projectiles are designed to be launched from M270 MLRS (MARS II, LRU) multiple rocket launchers and M142 HIMARS high-mobility artillery rocket systems.

Source: Bloomberg