Multiple US sources have stated that the United States is planning to declare a $2.2 billion worth of security package for Ukraine, which would finally include longer-range weapons. According to two officials, this package would be inclusive of a promise to give Ukraine the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb, alongside a guided missile that ranges 90 miles.
What’s This New Security Package Including For Ukraine
However, the security package will not contain the highly desired ATACMS missile that’s supposed to range more than 200 miles, effectively doubling the range of Ukrainian armament. The United States has repeatedly denied Ukraine’s demands into that system out of worry that it could be used against attacking targets deep within Russia.
This security package is one of its first since January when the United States and European countries agreed to send upgraded M-1 type Abrams tanks to Ukraine, manufactured in Germany by the Leopard 2 tank company.
The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, expected to be presented this coming Friday, will include roughly $1.7 billion for supplies that need to be acquired from military contractors and $500 million in weapons and equipment taken straight from US inventory (USAI).
Olivia Dalton, spokesperson for the White House said on Tuesday that another announcement in security support to Ukraine would be made “soon,” but she did not provide any other information. The news of the package’s contents first came into reports by Reuters.
According to Saab, which collaborated with Boeing to create the weapon, the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb has quite an effective range being around 90 miles when launched from a HIMARS rocket launcher. Certainly more times by twice as far as the GMLRS bombs Ukraine presently fires from HIMARS rocket launchers. Once it has reached its target range, this long-ranged missile deploys its little wings and propels itself forward with a rocket.
