Upcoming military package for Kiev to include GLSDB missiles: Reuters

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Feb 11:38

An upcoming military package to Ukraine worth over $2 billion will reportedly include for the first time GLSDB missiles.

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb was launched in March 2015. (Saab AB)

Washington is readying an upcoming assistance package to Kiev worth over $2 billion, which is expected to include this time longer-range rockets and other military equipment, Reuters reported on Tuesday citing two US military officials.

These longer-range missiles will be delivered to Ukraine for the first time, after several months of rebuffing Kiev's demands to provide it with munitions that can strike deeper into Russian territory.

The report states that the fund will be going to the purchase of Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB). The munitions are manufactured by Boeing Co, weigh 113 kg, and have a range of up to 150 km.

They will be used to enable Ukraine's forces to hit previously unreachable targets, and push Russian forces further behind its lines, the report states.

The report further states that Washington rebuffed Ukraine's request for Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which weigh twice as much as the GLSDB, and have a range of 297 km.

The unnamed sources told Reuters that the package is expected to be announced within days.

Yesterday, US President Joe Biden told reporters that the US will not be sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which Ukraine's leaders have said are at the top of their latest weapons wish list.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said a day earlier that Poland can hand over its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine only in coordination with other NATO partners.

Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he would not rule out France delivering fighter jets to Ukraine, but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was considering providing Kiev with military support, and that he was open to mediating between Russia and Ukraine if requested to do so by its allies and the US.