“ATACMS”: what are these new long-range missiles that the United States delivered to Ukraine

Will their supply turn the conflict towards Russia? The United States sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine “this month” before Congress passed new aid to Kyiv on Tuesday, the State Department said Wednesday.

The delivery was made “at the direct request of President” Joe Biden in February, said Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesman, adding that the missiles, which were part of the latest aid package sent by Ukraine on March 12, “have arrived in Ukraine.” this month”.

The inclusion of missiles in the March package was not announced at the time “in order to ensure Ukraine’s operational security at its request,” the spokesman said.

Range 300 km.

Introduced to the market in 1991, these missiles were used extensively in the Gulf War and then in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In the USA they are gradually being replaced by the “Point Impact Missile” model.

ATACMS missiles, also called MGM-140 and which American soldiers call “attack” missiles, were eagerly awaited by Vladimir Zelensky’s soldiers. And it’s not for nothing that they have a much greater range than the missiles that Ukraine has had so far. In some versions, the ATACMS missile has a range of 300 km. Thus, Ukraine could easily reach treacherous bases.

Risk of conflict escalation

Their arrival at the front was a major turning point. In July 2022, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed his opposition to such a delivery, fearing that it would push Russia to escalate the conflict.

Since 2022, Ukraine has missile launchers capable of firing ATACMS M142 HIMARS missiles. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon modified these missile launchers before sending them to Kyiv so that they could not launch long-range missiles.

Ukraine first used American ATACMS missiles against Russia in October, but those sent more recently have a longer range.