US eyes long-range missiles with cluster bombs for Ukraine: Reuters
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According to multiple US officials, the missiles, packed with cluster bombs, could give Kiev the ability to cause hefty damage within Russian territory.
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A US-made Patriot missile was launched in Taipei, Taiwan on July 20, 2006 (AP)
According to various US sources, cluster bombs-laden missiles might provide Kiev with the capacity to wreak significant damage into Russian territory, and the Biden administration is ready to equip Kiev with them.
Following the success of cluster munitions delivered in 155 mm artillery rounds in recent months, Reuters reported that the US is considering shipping either or both Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) that can fly up to 190 miles (306 km) or Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles with a 45-mile range packed with cluster bombs, according to three US officials.
Read more: US refuses to disclose details on cluster munitions sent to Ukraine
If authorized, any option would be ready for immediate transport to Kiev, which now has 155-millimeter artillery with a maximum range of 18 miles and a capacity of 48 bomblets.
The ATACMS in question would launch 300 bomblets or more. The GMLRS rocket system, a variant of which Ukraine has had for months, has the capability of dispersing up to 404 cluster bombs.
With Ukraine's counteroffensive showing no signs of progress, the administration is desperate to keep the Ukrainian life-support machine going.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the most recent military package amounting to over $1 billion for Ukraine during an unannounced visit to Kiev and said the US noticed "good progress" in the counteroffensive, but that claim was quite shortlived.
In an interview with Judge Andrew Napolitano on his Judging Freedom podcast, former CIA analyst Larry Johnson expressed his belief that the US is outright lying about the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
"Tony, look at a map," and just look at the progress that "has not been made by Ukraine," he said.
The military official further pointed out that as a result of the failed counteroffensive, the Kiev regime has been resorting to strategies of terror operations on civilian infrastructure in Russia.
According to the four sources, the decision to send ATACMS, GMLRS, or both, is not final and might yet fail. For months, the Biden administration has struggled to make a decision on ATACMS, fearful that its shipping might be interpreted as an unnecessarily aggressive step towards Russia.
