“They are coming,” said two unnamed U.S. officials, whose comments were reported by ABC News. Long requested by Ukraine, the United States should soon provide ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles.

In July 2022, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan refuted the idea of ??such a delivery, fearing that it would push Russia to intensify the conflict.

This missile has characteristics that are of great interest to kyiv. First, its range: up to 300 kilometers. The Ukrainians could then strike almost the entire territory occupied by the Russians, including a good part of Crimea. An interesting weapon when we know that kyiv seeks to undermine the Russian logistics chain by striking behind the front. “The Ukrainians could target command posts, weapons depots, air bases, communications nodes or ground-air batteries,” explains Joseph Henrotin, editor-in-chief of the specialist journal Defense and International Security (DSI). .

Another advantage is that ATACMS missiles can be fired by M-142 Himars launchers that Ukraine has already had in dozens of copies for more than a year.

If obtaining these missiles will delight Ukraine, the ATACMS missiles will not, on their own, change the course of the war. “It’s the addition of different abilities that produces effects. The wider the range of capabilities, the greater the freedom of action of planners, explains Joseph Henrotin. There is also a numerical effect: the more long-range missiles delivered, the more targets can be dealt with. »

No information has leaked on the number of missiles the United States should deliver. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, clarified that the ATACMS would not target Russian territory.

Long-range missiles have proved crucial. This is why Taurus and ATACMS are essential for Ukraine’s success, and we ask partners to provide them as soon as possible. Both will be used solely inside our borders. The longer the missile range, the shorter the war.

This is not the first time that Ukraine has received long-range missiles from its Western partners. Britain and France delivered Storm Shadows and Scalp missiles respectively earlier this year. “The effects are different: an ATACMS will hit less far but its flight is faster; it is therefore possible to deal with fleeting targets and the probability of being intercepted in flight is lower. Taken from the ground, an ATACMS does not involve risking losing a combat aircraft,” concludes Joseph Henrotin.

After Great Britain, France and the United States, it is Germany which could soon deliver its missiles. Discussions are underway between Berlin and kyiv for the delivery of Taurus missiles. Germany has 600 copies.