What are ATACMS, the US-made weapons Ukraine used against Russia?
Ukraine launched U.S.-made long-range missiles into Russia on Tuesday, according to Russian officials, firing the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for the first time into the Russian territory since President Biden’s administration lifted the restriction over the weekend.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said Ukraine hit a facility in Russia’s region of Bryansk on Tuesday with ATACMS.
Ukraine has for years pushed the U.S. to shift its policy to allow Ukraine to file the missiles into Russia.
The change came after Biden for months had refused to authorize Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with ATACMS, fearing that it would further escalate the conflict.
The administration shifted its position after it said the Kremlin escalated the war by having around 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
The decision also came after President-elect Trump beat Vice President Harris to win the White House. Trump will take office on Jan. 20. Trump has vowed to swiftly end the war in Eastern Europe that on Tuesday marked its 1,000th day.
What are ATACMS?
The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) are long-range, guided missiles that can hit targets up to 190 miles away.
They can be fired either from systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the M270 launchers. They are made by Lockheed Martin.
While they are branded as long-range missiles, ATACMS cannot get as far as an intercontinental ballistic missile or a cruise missile.
The Pentagon has two versions of ATACMS, which are more lethal and accurate than Ukraine’s drones. Kyiv had previously used drones to strike deep inside Russia.
M57 ATACMS carry a 500-pound warhead while the M39A1 Block IA carries 300 bomblets.
When they were developed?
ATACMS was first developed by the U.S. in the 1980s to rival the former Soviet Union’s long-range artillery and missile systems.
When they were used by the U.S.?
The weapon was first deployed during Operation Desert Storm. It was used to hit Iraq’s surface-to-air missile sites and medium-range ballistic missile launchers, according to The New York Times.
The Army has also fired ATACMS during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After the Pentagon restricted the use of cluster munitions, the Army revamped some of the ATACMS, going away from bomblets to single warheads.
How they will impact Ukraine?
Ukraine could utilize ATACMS to hit Russia’s ammunition depots, supply lines and troops. The lifting of the restriction could help Ukraine slow down Russia’s counteroffensive aided by North Korean troops.
Biden’s administration gave Ukraine its first ATACMS last year in October. It is unclear how many missiles Ukraine has, although the Pentagon said long-range missiles from Western forces are in “limited supply.”
“There are only so many of these capabilities that different nations can produce there,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said. “They are incredibly costly.”
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