Speaking to Sky News Arabia, military analysts believe that the American shift in supplying Ukraine with Atakms missiles may change the rules of the game in the war between Moscow and Kiev, as it contributes to reaching viable goals inside Russia, explaining that the Russian anti-missile defenses It will be a new test to shoot down new American missiles.
Missiles at Biden's “direct” request
A senior US official revealed to the New York Times that, in a major shift, President Joe Biden secretly approved the decision to send more than 100 long-range Atakum missiles in mid-February, in addition to more cluster munitions.
As Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Garon said, the Atakhams were then quietly included in the $300 million aid package announced on March 12 and ultimately delivered to Ukraine earlier this month. “.
Ukrainian forces immediately used weapons to attack a Russian military airport in Crimea last Wednesday, and Russian forces in the southeast of the country last Tuesday night, according to the American official.
US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said that this shipment was sent “at the direct request” of President Joe Biden. However, a Pentagon spokesman noted that “it was not announced that we were providing Ukraine with this new capability at that time in order to maintain security.” Operational operation of Ukraine at their request.”
special abilities
- “Atakumz” is a tactical ballistic missile that entered service in the early 1990s, and is in operation in 4 countries, led by the United States and South Korea.
- A long-range “surface-to-surface” ballistic missile that can be launched from mobile platforms such as the M270 rocket launchers.
- It is used to reach ground targets that cannot be reached by conventional artillery units.
- The range of the missile is 300 kilometers, and it was used in a number of areas, including the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq war.
What does Ukraine benefit from “ATACMS”?
The American expert specializing in security and strategic affairs, Irina Tsukerman, told Sky News Arabia that Ukraine believes that Atakz missiles could be necessary to restore Kiev's dominance on the battlefield and force Russia to suffer heavy losses.
Tsukerman explained that long-range missile defense systems will help Ukraine target vital economic infrastructure such as oil refineries, as well as basic military infrastructure and sites, including bridges and missile defense systems, and disrupt or preempt military operations by Russia.
“The use of Atakms could be a game-changer for Ukraine, which has been relying on its existing outdated weapons arsenal and is therefore likely to use the new missiles efficiently to cause maximum damage to important Russian military targets,” she added.
Tactical advantages…and a test for Russia
Mohamed Hassan, a researcher specializing in defense policies, told Sky News Arabia that these missiles will achieve a tactical advantage that Ukraine has long lacked, which is the ability to strike the logistics of Russian forces beyond the three defense lines in Zaporizhya in particular, which means targeting ports and ships. The Russian Navy stationed around the Crimean Peninsula, ammunition depots, transportation lines, fuel depots, airports, command centers, and military concentration points.
Hassan explained that the Russian anti-missile defenses will face a new test, as will the electronic warfare and jamming systems that play a major role in deflecting waves of missile bombardment from their targets.
The defense policy researcher identified the reasons for the shift in the American position towards supplying Ukraine with Atakms missiles at a number of points, saying that:
- It has become clear that Ukraine is losing the war in favor of a field advance by Russian forces along the front line from Donbass to western Zaporizhya, while the United States and Western countries see this, and as a result we see a qualitative shift in the type of weapons that these countries send to Ukraine.
- The transformation appeared in the attempt to build a multi-layered air defense system in the confrontation field and around the main Ukrainian cities or the cities of the West, which are considered the most important points for receiving logistical support from the West through Poland.
- Providing Ukraine with the firepower of its rocket artillery to match the overwhelming fire superiority of Russian artillery in this war.
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