US to send precision bomb kits and Patriot missiles in next Ukraine aid package, officials say

The US is anticipated to ship Ukraine precision bomb kits that can flip present unguided munitions, or “dumb” bombs, into precision-guided “sensible” bombs often known as Joint Direct Assault Munitions, or JDAMs, based on a number of US officers.

The kits add fins and a precision steerage system to the “dumb” munitions. They’re anticipated to be included within the subsequent safety assist package deal to Ukraine as quickly as this week, the sources mentioned, although officers didn’t say what number of JDAMs could be supplied, or what particular sort.

The precision bombs may assist Ukraine assault mounted Russian defensive strains or different massive targets. However they have to be dropped from fighter jets, which stays a major problem due to Russia’s personal air defenses.

The Ukrainian navy would additionally have to discover a method to goal and launch JDAMs from Soviet-era plane, a lot as they did with US-made HARM anti-radar missiles earlier this yr. The Ukrainian Air Drive tailored MiG-29 fighter jets to have the ability to fireplace the HARM missile. They should do the identical for JDAMs.

The kits may be related to bombs of various weights and sizes, starting from a 500-pound bomb to 1 that’s 2,000 kilos. The munitions then use a mixture of GPS and an inertial steerage system to strike a goal with precision. An extra system can even give the bomb laser steerage to strike a transferring goal.

The US used JDAMs extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. The kits have been exported to greater than two dozen different international locations, based on Boeing, the producer of the kits. Up to now, greater than 400,000 kits have been produced at a price of roughly $22,000 per package.

The kits, first reported by The Washington Publish, give the bombs a spread of roughly 15 miles, based on Boeing.

The following assist package deal to Ukraine can also be anticipated to incorporate Patriot air protection programs, as CNN first reported final week.

The US has supplied billions of {dollars} in assist to Ukraine for the reason that starting of Russia’s invasion in February, and sees it as efficient in serving to the Ukrainians combat again. Whereas Ukraine has requested for sure weapon programs, just like the Patriot missile protection system, the Biden administration has had a cautious strategy to what’s supplied to Ukraine and when.

The JDAMs don’t carry a critical danger of escalation, one official mentioned, due to their comparatively quick vary, just like different weapons the US has supplied. The kits wouldn’t permit Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory. The precision Excalibur rounds fired from Ukrainian artillery have roughly the identical vary, whereas the Guided A number of Rocket Launch System missiles launched from Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods (HIMARS) have a considerably longer vary than JDAMs.