Ukrainian F-16 Fighting Falcon jets have the capability to launch Tomahawk and Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) into Russia. (Photo: U.S. Air Force)
President Biden must act now to remove restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range. weapons — including Tomahawk cruise missiles — to strike military and industrial targets deep within Russia.
The administration is reportedly working through the complicated details of sensitive technologies, and ensuring Ukraine’s jets can launch the 2,400-pound missile which carries a 1,000-pound warhead.
In the latest developments, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held talks with President Joe Biden in Washington today (Sept. 13), but Starmer reported no decisions had been reached.
Great Britain has tentatively authorized Ukraine to use Anglo-French-made long-range Storm Shadow missiles on Russian targets. But the UK is waiting for the United States to sign off on the move before giving the final go ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called on the West to authorize Russian missile strikes as the quickest way to bring about an end to the war.
The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) in flight. (Photo: US Air Force)
Ukraine already has a supply of the Storm Shadows, but can only use them within its own borders. The missiles, however, have a limited range, about 250km, or 155 miles.
In contrast, the U.S.-made Tomahawk, a mainstay of the U.S military, is an all-weather cruise missile with a 1,500 mile range that could reach most of Western Russia.
Variations of the missile can be launched from truck-like launch vehicles or from the air and is already compatible with Ukraine’s new F-16 fighters.
The missile also has GPS, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching navigation that would make it difficult to defeat it with electronic warfare.
It can operate autonomously, guiding itself to its target with a high degree of accuracy. Additionally, it can be armed with different types of warheads depending on the specific mission requirements.
From a strategic standpoint, Tomahawk missiles could achieving specific military objectives while minimizing the risk to civilian targets in Russia.
Critical enemy infrastructure, including command and control centers, air defense systems, and other high-value assets like air bases and ports could be struck. By neutralizing these targets, Tomahawk missiles could significantly degrade Russia’s capabilities to strike civilian targets.
While the Tomahawk appears to be off the table, unnamed officials cited by Reuters said that Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs), a smaller, shorter-range weapon could be heading to Ukraine as part of weapons package slated for delivery this fall.
The AGM-158A version of the missile has a 330-mile range, while the AGM-158B variant, 575 miles, potentially putting Russian staging areas and supply depots and up to 30 airbases far from the front lines within striking distance of Ukraine’s forces. Like the Tomahawk, it carries a 1,000-pound conventional warhead.
The change in thinking in Washington is being dictated by Russia’s intensified use of cruise missiles and glide bombs launched from within its own territory. They are striking mostly civilian targets across the Ukraine, including schools, hospitals and apartment blocks.
The White House also expressed “deep concern about Iran and North Korea’s provision of lethal weapons to Russia,” including drones and missiles used to strike Ukraine.
With the battlefield and tactics in Ukraine constantly shifting, Washington must adapt its policies to counter new threats that are prolonging the war and giving Russia a one-sided advantage.
The administration has reportedly been reluctant to authorize the use of long-range missiles to hit targets deep in Russia for fear it might provoke Russia to escalate the war.
But Russia’s ability to widen the war is limited without a major mobilization, and it is unlikely to change the dynamics of the fighting.
Ukraine has launched a ground attack into Russia that has taken over 1,000 square miles of territory. One of the goals is to stop artillery attacks on Ukrainian towns near the border.
But it will do nothing to address the larger problem of standoff attacks by Russian bombers and fighters. The most effective way to address that threat is to push back Russian aircraft to airbases that are out of practical range of Ukrainian targets.
Ukraine has deployed homemade drones that are attacking airbases and critical infrastructure. But the range and explosive power of those drones are limited, and they are easy to shoot down.
Following the surprise cross-border incursion, the UK said Ukraine had a “clear right” to use British-provided weapons for “self-defense” which “does not preclude operations inside Russia,” according to the BBC.
A Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 departs an RAF airbase carrying two Storm Shadow cruise missiles. (Photo: Davidsmith2014)
That prompted Russia to issue new warnings about the use of long-range missiles on its territory. Putin said such a move would represent NATO’s “direct participation” in the Ukraine war.
Supplying cruise missiles to Ukraine could escalate the conflict, intensify regional tensions, and provoke retaliatory actions. But the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Russia can’t expect it’s territory to be off limits when it’s launching wide-ranging attacks on Ukrainian cities from within its borders.
Given Russia’s superiority in men and material, cutting off or sharply curtailing Russia’s ability to supply its troops would be the quickest way to end the bloody trench-warfare along the 600-mile Ukrainian front.
Ukraine may not be able to defeat the snake, with its current weapons, but with long-range missiles it can starve it to death and protect it’s civilian population from further strikes.
Biden needs to approve their use inside Russia now and add Tomahawks to Ukraine’s arsenal as soon as possible.
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