New US Weapons On the Table For Ukraine
New Weapons For Ukraine
It sounds like US lawmakers are coming around on the idea of sending cluster munitions and ATACMs to Ukraine in the near future. Both of these items have been hotly contested, though for different reasons.
Cluster munitions, weapons that release submunitions across a wide stretch of the battlefield, are most known for leaving unexploded ordinance that kills and mains civilians long after the war has ended. It sounds like the US is looking at DPICM (Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions) which contains a mix of anti-tank and anti-personnel submunitions. These are set to self-destruct after a few hours but that’s never perfect and it’s always possible some of these munitions remain behind ready to be triggered. However, against an entrenched enemy like the Ukrainians are facing, even small volleys of DPICM could be incredibly effective.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions banned the manufacture, storage, transfer or use of these munitions but the United States, Russia and Ukraine have yet to sign that treaty. Within the US, we have transferred some of these munitions recently to Saudi Arabia and could technically do so with Ukraine if that decision is reached.
ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) also appears to be on the short list of weapons for Ukraine. The argument against has long been that it would provide Ukraine the ability to strike targets inside of Russia, something the US has wanted to avoid, at least with US provided weapons.
The ATACMS is fired by the M142 HIMARS or M270 MLRS platform, both of which Ukraine currently operates and has an publicly available range of 300km. With the UK having sent Storm Shadow cruise missiles that surpass that range, it’s possible the US is now more open to sending our own longer range munitions.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ukraine-situation-report-u-s-warming-to-sending-atacms
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