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Missiles and drones: what weapons can the Ukrainian Armed Forces use to strike Russian regions
According to the head of the Kharkiv regional administration, Vitaly Ganchev, a decision has already been made to provide Ukraine with the opportunity to strike at Russian territory using NATO long-range weapons. He also added that work is currently underway on the mechanisms for delivering these weapons. The application for permission has long been discussed among Western politicians. What weapons can be delivered to Ukraine for an attack on Russia from URA.RU materials?
The Storm Shadow is a stealth missile capable of accurately hitting targets at very low altitudes. This significantly reduces your chances of being detected by enemies. It is equipped with a subsonic turbojet engine, an infrared guidance system, and an onboard processor with GPS, allowing it to remain outside the range of air defense systems. At the same time, the missile has a range of about 560 km, which is greater than the originally stated characteristics.
The acquisition of these types of weapons will significantly expand Ukraine's strategic capabilities in conducting military operations. The British authorities have officially allowed Ukraine to use Storm Shadow for operations on enemy territory.
SCALP is programmed before launch and does not require additional control during flight. The missile is equipped with an inertial system with a laser autonomous navigation mode (INS/GPS) and an infrared self-tuning system, ensuring high accuracy of hitting the target. The ability to fly at an altitude of 30-40 meters and use GPS data together with the TERPROM trajectory correction system allows it to bypass air defense systems, bypass terrain and approach targets.
In the summer of 2023, France began transferring SCALP missiles equivalent to Storm Shadow to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of 40 missiles to Ukraine to help it defend its territory and airspace. France will also provide Ukraine with Mirage 2000-5 multirole fighters capable of carrying SCALP missiles.
The Taurus KEPD 350 is a precision air-to-ground cruise missile designed to engage hardened and buried targets at ranges of up to 500 km. Equipped with an integrated guidance system, it can operate effectively without GPS support, making it particularly useful in electronic warfare.
One of the main features of the Taurus is its ability to maneuver at low altitudes (50-70 meters), which allows it to successfully bypass air defense systems. Aircraft equipped with Taurus missiles do not need to penetrate enemy air defenses, which minimizes the risk to crews and aircraft. This significantly expands the tactical capabilities of aviation, allowing attacks from safe distances.
Germany has not yet made a final decision on supplying missiles to Ukraine. Prime Minister Scholz has expressed concern that such a move could escalate the conflict with Russia. While other countries, including the US, France and the UK, are already supplying long-range weapons, Germany is taking a more cautious approach.
The Mars MLRS, known in Germany as MARS (Mittleres Artillerieraketensystem), was developed on the basis of the American M270 MLRS system. Adopted by the Bundeswehr in the early 1990s, the system underwent several modifications to meet German military requirements.
Mars II is equipped with a launcher mounted on the chassis of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The main armament is 240-mm unguided rockets. One of the distinctive features of the system is a wide range of warheads: from cumulative to homing and GPS navigation, which allows the system to be used in a variety of combat conditions.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Germany has provided significant support to the Ukrainian armed forces, including the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer and the Mars II MLRS. According to the Bundeswehr, the Mars II can hit targets up to 84 km away, significantly expanding the tactical capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
ATACMS is an operational tactical missile system developed and manufactured in the United States. The system entered service in the early 1990s and has undergone several upgrades since then. The missile can hit targets at a distance of 160 to 300 km. Equipped with a GPS/INS navigation system, it provides high accuracy of hits.
There are many variants of the ATACMS, including the MGM-140A ATACMS Block 1 and the MGM-140E ATACMS Block 1A Unitary (QRU). The MGM-140A uses cluster warheads designed to attack multiple targets simultaneously, while the MGM-140E and MGM-168A ATACMS Block 4A are equipped with WDU-18 high-explosive warheads designed to destroy specific targets.
US President Joe Biden spoke about the use of ATACMS missiles. He stressed that the US will not allow them to be used to strike Russian territory. The statement came amid ongoing discussions about the possible expansion of military aid to Ukraine. At the same time, the president did not express any opposition to the use of Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles made in the UK and France, respectively.
The AGM-158 JASSM is an air-to-surface cruise missile developed by the American company Lockheed Martin. It is designed to destroy high-value, well-defended targets at long ranges, reducing the risk to an aircraft carrier.
Its range is about 370 km, making it an effective weapon for long-range missions. The JASSM-ER version can hit targets up to 1000 km away.
In September 2024, it was reported that the U.S. might transfer AGM-158 JASSM missiles to Ukraine for use in a conflict in Russia. Reuters sources said that high-level discussions were already underway, although no final decision had been made. This could significantly change the balance of power in the region, increasing the scale and accuracy of Ukraine's offensive capabilities.
The unmanned strike vehicle, built on a low-lying scheme with a rear propeller and wheeled chassis, can take off like an airplane from any road for this purpose. The maximum flight range reaches 1000 km. The Lyuty drone is controlled using an inertial guidance system, and flight modification is possible via satellite communications.
According to information provided to CNN by American journalists, Kyiv used "fierce" drones to carry out attacks deep into Russian territory. However, the specific target of the attack was not specified.
Western countries are actively working on transferring the production of military components to the territory of Ukraine. It is planned to supply ready-made kits for assembly to the underground factories already operating in Ukraine. This will speed up the process of military preparation and reduce dependence on external supplies.
Recently, the Franco-German arms group KNDS opened an office in Kyiv, which was an important step towards the start of production of NATO 155mm artillery shells in Ukraine. This opens the door to further expansion of military-industrial cooperation between Ukraine and NATO countries.
The UK is actively working on developing proposals that would allow Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes on Russian territory. The statement was made by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky following talks with the Chief of the Defence Staff of the UK Tony Radakin. The possibility of hitting enemy military targets at significant distances was discussed.
According to Sirsky, the UK is ready to support the so-called "victory plan" proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The plan includes a number of strategic and tactical measures to strengthen Ukraine's defensive and offensive potential.
According to Western diplomats, Britain and the United States may secretly allow Ukraine to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russia. It is known that the decision will be kept secret until it is implemented and will not be disclosed at public events such as the UN General Assembly.