The United States is considering including medium-range missiles for Ukraine’s new F-16 fighter jets in a $375 million military aid package, according to a report from Politico.
The package, which could be announced as soon as Monday, 23 September, would mark a significant upgrade in Ukraine’s capabilities to strike Russian forces from a safer distance.
Politico reports that the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), which has a range of over 70 miles, may be part of the aid package. The US Air Force, Navy, and several allied nations already use this weapon. Speaking anonymously, two US officials and a person familiar with the matter disclosed that the package is still being finalized and may also include “artillery munitions, rockets, and air defense missiles.”
The potential inclusion of the JSOW comes as Ukraine continues to face challenges in its ongoing war with Russia. According to the report, “Ukrainian troops have been slowly losing ground” in the country’s east. The extended range of these missiles would allow Ukrainian pilots to engage targets while remaining outside the range of Russian air defenses, potentially “complicating operations for Russian forces.”
However, the missiles fall short of the long-range capabilities that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been requesting. Politico notes that Zelenskyy has been asking for permission to use long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems and British-made Storm Shadows to strike targets deeper inside Russia, but these requests have not been granted. The lifted restrictions on the use of Western long-range weapons would allow Ukraine to degrade Russia’s logistics and airfields in the rear and bring the war to an end faster.
The report indicates that the $375 million package could be “the largest package the US has sent Ukraine since May.” It may also be the final presidential drawdown of equipment before the end of the fiscal year on 30 September. Politico reports that the Pentagon is working with Congress to roll over the remaining $5.8 billion in presidential drawdown authority to the next fiscal year, though no agreement has been reached yet.
The potential missile transfer comes amid ongoing training efforts for Ukrainian pilots.
Read also:
- Denmark to deliver batch of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine by end of 2024 – Defense Minister
- Ukrainian F-16 training underway in Romania
- Netherlands to supply F-16 equipment and air-to-air missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense
- Long-range strikes into Russia with British Storm Shadow missiles need US permission on cartography data
- White House: US maintains stance on long-range missile restrictions for Ukraine