Britain may hand Ukraine long-range Harpoon and Storm Shadow missiles - The Times

By: Elena Shcherban | 12.02.2023, 12:16
Britain may hand Ukraine long-range Harpoon and Storm Shadow missiles - The Times

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the UK this week, after which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to send more military aid to Ukraine. According to The Times, it may include long-range Harpoon and Storm Shadow missiles.

Here's What We Know

Harpoon missiles cost £1.2 million per unit and have a maximum range of 240km. These are anti-ship missiles that Ukraine has already received from Denmark. They can be adapted for launch from trucks, but are less accurate at destroying ground targets. Storm Shadow missiles are twice as expensive, but can destroy targets at ranges of over 560km. Although the export version of these missiles has a shorter range.

"Rishi Sunak has promised to send more military aid to Ukraine after President Zelenskyy's visit to the UK this week. Discussions are now underway over whether they should include Harpoon or Storm Shadows anti-ship air-to-surface missiles," writes The Times.

Thus, Western allies have softened their stance on the transfer of offensive weapons, which Ukraine can use to strike weapons depots in the temporarily occupied territories. For example, the US had earlier included GLSDB missiles with a range of up to 150 km into the assistance package.

Source: The Times