Biden administration to arm Ukraine with long-range missiles
The administration of President Joe Biden has made a strategic decision to supply Ukraine with American long-range ballistic missiles, known as ATACMS. This change in policy comes in response to the considerable involvement of North Korean armed forces in the conflict.
According to U.S. government sources, implementing the new military support strategy may commence in the coming days. Kyiv is set to receive ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) tactical missiles with an operational range of up to 300 kilometres. The decision follows months of strategic analyses and consultations with allies.
As reported by Defence24, in 2022, the cost of a single ATACMS missile was approximately $1.5 (€1.4) million. These missiles are a vital component of the HIMARS and MRLS rocket artillery systems used by the U.S. armed forces and other countries within the Foreign Military Sales programme. The high price is due to the advanced technology and precision these surface-to-surface ballistic missiles offer.
Technical specifications and operational capabilities
The ATACMS system is an advanced surface-to-surface rocket complex, using inertially guided ballistic missiles with GPS correction. A single missile with a launch weight of roughly 1,670 kilograms carries a warhead weighing about 230 kilograms. The missile uses solid fuel and reaches a speed of approximately 3,000 kilometres per hour, making it difficult for anti-air defence systems to intercept.
Military analysts highlight that the system is characterised by high targeting precision, with a margin of error not exceeding 10 metres. The missiles can be launched from universal M142 HIMARS or M270 MLRS launchers, which are already in the Ukrainian armed forces' arsenal. One vehicle can carry two ATACMS missiles simultaneously, allowing for coordinated strikes on strategically significant targets.
Strategic potential and operational range
An analysis conducted by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicates that within the ATACMS strike radius, there is an extensive military infrastructure encompassing 245 strategically significant objects. The list of potential targets includes 16 operational air force airports, operational and tactical-level command complexes, defence industry facilities, and logistical supply nodes.
The system's operational range includes key urban centres with developed military infrastructure. The missiles can target nine major cities with a total population of 4.7 million inhabitants. Analysts point out two particularly significant centres: Rostov-on-Don (1.14 million inhabitants) — the headquarters of the Southern Military District, and Voronezh (1.046 million) with strategic aviation bases.
Operational context and military implications
Implementing the new armament system is taking place at a time of significant change in regional power dynamics. Russian forces have amassed a strike group of around 50,000 soldiers in the Kursk region, including a North Korean contingent estimated at 10,000 military personnel. According to intelligence sources, the number of DPRK soldiers could increase to 100,000.
In September, Kyiv developed a comprehensive strategy for using ATACMS missiles, targeting priority strikes on ammunition depots, logistic bases, and aviation infrastructure. Military experts predict that the missiles' use could disrupt the Russian logistic system and significantly limit the ability to transfer troops and supplies in the operational area. Ukrainian armed forces currently control an area of about 1,000 square kilometres in the Kursk region, providing favourable conditions for conducting offensive operations using new armaments.
