Biden could send Ukraine long-range cruise missiles soon

The United States may soon send long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. However, even if a deal were approved tomorrow, it would take several months before Ukraine could actually use them against Russia.

According to three sources within the White House, Reuters reported President Biden may approve sending AGM-158 JASSMs (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles) to Ukraine, with an official announcement expected this fall.

The JASSMs, stealthy air-launched cruise missiles built by Lockheed Martin, are widely available in the U.S. arsenal. In fact, the U.S. Air Force has so many that it is exploring ways to launch them from cargo planes by the pallet. The missiles are compatible with most strike aircraft in the U.S. inventory, including the F-16s Ukraine is now flying. One F-16 can carry two JASSMs.

Efforts are also underway to potentially retrofit Ukraine’s Soviet-era jets to carry these missiles, according to one of the White House sources.

The weapon comes in two versions: the original JASSM, with a range of about 230 miles, and the extended range JASSM-ER, which can say “hello” to enemy targets over 600 miles away.

Both variants are designed to be all-weather weapons, using GPS for guidance and switching to infrared cameras in the final stage of attack. Those features make them more resistant to electronic jamming, if the Russians could detect them.

The missiles are hard to pick up on radar due to their outer coating and overall design. They can also be programmed to avoid areas with active enemy radar. Russia is already struggling to counter British and French-supplied stealth cruise missiles, and one can expect that challenge to continue if the U.S. approves sending JASSMs to Ukraine.

Focusing on range, the standard JASSM would allow Ukraine to strike over two dozen Russian military targets that are within its striking distance, including the entirety of Crimea, which Russia illegally seized in 2014. If the extended range version is provided, the number of targets would increase significantly.

However, there is currently a ban on Ukraine using U.S. weapons to strike targets deep in Russia. Although there have been a few exceptions, Ukraine is being forced to largely sit and watch as Russia moves troops and equipment far from the frontlines with relative safety. A deal to send JASSMs could potentially alter these restrictions.

Russia opposes sending JASSMs to Ukraine and lifting the U.S. restrictions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the U.S. and others should not laugh at Russia’s red lines. Lavrov also warned of potential nuclear retaliation. But with previous Russian “red lines” involving tanks, ATACMS and F-16s crossed without consequence, many now say Russia’s red lines are “pointless.” Even Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk, the first time Russia was invaded since WWII, did not spark a nuclear response from Russia.

Reuters contributed to this report.