Helping Ukraine Strike Deep in Russia

commentary

Sep 30, 2024

U.S. Army conducts test of ATACMS missile at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, December 14, 2021, photo by John Hamilton/White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

U.S. Army conducts test of ATACMS missile at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, December 14, 2021

Photo by John Hamilton/White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs

This commentary originally appeared on Defense News on September 29, 2024.

Ukraine's innovative drones are damaging forces and war-supporting industry across western and southern Russia. In a visit to the White House on September 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for more help for long-range strikes. He received modest assistance. President Joe Biden said the United States would provide the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), an unpowered glide bomb with a range of over 60 miles.

Ukraine had wanted more. It has repeatedly sought permission to use U.S.-built Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for long-range strikes deep in Russia. They have a range of up to 190 miles and, with their speed, are better able to hit mobile targets. Prior to Zelenskyy's visit, there were hints the United States might provide Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM). Unlike ATACMS missiles, these missiles are abundant in the U.S. arsenal, and their stealth capability makes them more effective at hitting defended targets.…

The remainder of this commentary is available at defensenews.com.

More About This Commentary

William Courtney is an adjunct senior fellow at nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND and was U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georgia, and a U.S.-Soviet commission to implement the Threshold Test Ban Treaty. John Hoehn is an associate policy researcher at RAND and a former military analyst with the Congressional Research Service.

Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.