US sends long-range missiles to Ukraine secretly. What are ATACMS, can they hit targets in Russia?

United States officials recently confirmed that Washington had quietly shipped off long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine. Their statement also established that Kyiv had used the systems to hit an airfield in Crimea that houses Russian military helicopters.

Joe Biden had approved sending the ATACMS to Ukraine in February this year. The weapons became a part of their arsenal last month. However, this was kept a secret. The cat was only let out of the bag after Ukraine used the missiles in the early hours of April 17.

We explain how powerful the ATACMS is and why that means that Ukraine can’t use it in Russian territories.

The capabilities of the ATACMS

The ATACMS is one of the most potent missile systems built by US-based arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin. This is a surface-to-surface artillery weapon system. Its biggest strengths are the long-range of attack, ability to fire cluster munitions, and the weapon system’s mobility.

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Range: There is a mid-range version of the ATACMS, called Block 1, and there is a long-range versions, Block 1A. ATACMS Block 1 has a range of 165 kilometres. Ukraine was provided these systems last year, and used them to attack targets in October.

ATACMS have proven themselves.

📹: @GeneralStaffUA pic.twitter.com/Sd9rYYbkwe

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 18, 2023

ATACMS Block 1A, on the other hand, has a maximum range of 300 km. However, this is dependent on the kind of munition the missile is carrying. If it is carrying just one warhead, which can weigh up 160 kilograms, the range is shortened to around 270 km. However, if it is equipped with submunition, or cluster munitions, it can hit target(s) that are 300 km away.

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With such a range, the long-range ATACMS Block 1A is capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets and other missiles.

Cluster munitions: These consist of a dispenser and submunitions loaded onto it. Submunitions are usually grenades or other weapons weighing less than 20 kg each. The dispenser releases the submunitions above the target, which spread out as they fall. The explosion caused by cluster munitions cover much larger area that a single, concentrated explosion.

Mobility: ATACMS missiles are fired from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) platforms. Both of these launching systems are a highly mobile automatic systems. Reloading the HIMARS takes only a couple of minutes, making it ideal for “shoot and scoot” missions. The MLRS can fire 12 surface-to-surface missiles in less than a minute.

Ukraine can’t use ATACMS to target Russian territories

Despite territories deep inside Russia now being within the range of the uber-sophisticated system, Ukraine can not use it to hit targets in these locations. Ukraine has committed to only use the weapons inside Ukraine, not in Russia.

The US administration has made it clear that the weapons cannot be used to hit targets inside Russia. On Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel announced that President Biden had ordered his national security team to send ATACMS, specifying that they be used within Ukrainian territory.

Why?

The Biden administration is concerned that if Ukraine strikes deep into Russian territory, it would anger Moscow and escalate the conflict.

It was to avoid exactly this scenario that the Joe Biden administration, last year, sent the mid-range version instead of the long-range one.

Of course, the advances by Russia in the war was likely what prompted the US to change its mind. Another factor in the February decision, according to what sources told the Wall Street Journal, was that the US Army replacing the older ATACMS. Since they are now buying the Precision Strike Missile, taking ATACMS off the shelves to provide to Ukraine is a decision they were more comfortable with.

Behind the secrecy

As mentioned earlier, the US kept the transfer of the long-range ATACMS
under wraps for a long time. They did it quietly to make sure Ukraine retained the element of surprise on its side.

The missiles were part of a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine. It was approved by Biden on March 12, Reuters reported, citing an official.

The exact number of missiles sent are not known. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that a “significant number” had been sent to Ukraine. He said more would be shipped off.

With inputs from agencies