Ukraine to get new US-made 'glide missiles' with doubled range of previous bombs

05 February 2024 , 21:42

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The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is the latest US weapon to be given to Ukraine in its fight against Russia (Image: SAAB)

As the war in Ukraine rages following the Russian invasion of the country nearly two years ago, Ukraine could be getting a massive military boost from the US in the form of some short-range glide missiles.

The Pentagon has reportedly tested what it is calling long-range precision bombs for use in Ukraine, and the missiles are set to arrive in the country on Wednesday for immediate use, American officials reportedly revealed.

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs, which can reportedly travel up to 90 miles, were developed by Boeing, Politico reports, and they are slated to add "a significant capability for Ukraine," one official told the publication. The US doesn't even have the bombs in its own military repertoire.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been lobbying the US government for support for more support for the war effort for months (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The short-range bombs, which are considered long-range for the type of weapon they are, are reportedly supposed to complement "their long-range fire arsenal." They can also reach twice as far as other similar weapons that Ukraine currently owns.

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The weapon, which was reportedly co-developed by Saab, is 250 pounds and is strapped to a rocket motor and then fired from ground launchers, US officials said. The US military does have similar bombs but none that are ground-launched as this new technology is.

Ukrainian weapons stockpiles have reportedly been running low as of late, and though it doesn't have quite the range of the 100-mile US Army Tactical Missile System given to the country or the UK's Storm Shadow, the weapons are nonetheless necessary.

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The bombs reportedly have the capability to hit targets up to 90 miles away (Future Publishing via Getty Imag)

Fighting in the country has reportedly been at a stalemate recently, and the weapons are expected to help solve that issue. Their range will allow them to hit Russian targets in Crimea, it is reported, and potentially even some targets in Russia itself.

The announcement of the new bombs for Ukraine comes after Congress is stalled on a $111 billion emergency supplemental for Ukraine. But the government signed a contract last year, it is reported, that authorised Boeing to produce the weapons for Ukraine.

The weapon is the first of its kind and will prove to be a test watched closely by other countries who are even now developing weapons of a similar calibre for use both domestically and in Ukraine as they, too, support the country in its war.

First announced last February, it has taken nearly a year for testing and for all the kinks of the contracts to be worked out. Now that they have, and now that Boeing and Saab were promised that their product would be able to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russia, the weapons will be sent to the country and should be arriving this week.

Jeremiah Hassel