US will not provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles yet: other options to be considered
1 April, 2023 The ATACMS missile launched from the M270 rocket launcher of the Korean military. Photo credits: alamy The United States is not yet to supply long-range missiles MGM-140 ATACMS to Ukraine.
At the same time, other options are being considered to provide the Armed Forces with more battlefield capabilities. The statement was made on Friday by General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, writes Defense One. According to him, the United States has relatively few ATACMS missiles, and the American army should have its own stocks of these weapons at the right level.
"To date, a political decision has been made not to do this [transfer ATACMS missiles], so far. Yes, I would not foresee anything for the future. Militarily, we have relatively few ATACMS.
We also have to make sure we maintain our own stockpile of important weaponry," Mark Milley explained.
M142 HIMARS and ATACMS missiles. Photo credits: Mariusz Burcz
Milley also added that the effectiveness of ATACMS was "somewhat exaggerated". According to him, HIMARS, which uses GMLRS missiles in one salvo, can fire six shots, while the ATACMS can fire just one.
Other weapons can also be used to target long-range strikes, "there are drones for example that can do that and the British have a couple of systems," the general added.
Launch of the ATACMS missile from the HIMARS launcher
The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that the war in Ukraine had revealed an "incredible rate of consumption of conventional ammunition," and the United States was currently reviewing its estimates of the need for them in case of a large-scale war. According to the official, as of today the United States has enough ammunition, however the defense industry will work to expand its capacity for several years.
The M270 and M142 launch ATACMS. Photo from open sources
The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is designed to defeat point targets, such as command posts, missile launchers, air defense facilities, communication nodes and warehouses located in the depths of the enemy's defense. M270 and M142 launchers are used to launch the missile.
The system has a tactical ballistic MGM-140B missile with a maximum range of up to 300.
A batch of manufactured artillery shells at a factory in the USA.
Photo credits: The New York Times
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