As the offensive in Kursk continues, the United States government is evaluating new proposals to strengthen the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to local media reports, President Biden’s administration is considering the possibility and feasibility of transferring AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles to equip the Ukrainian Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets.
As of today, and as evidenced by the official ceremony earlier this month, the Ukrainian Air Force has already received the first F-16s committed by the coalition of Western allies led by the United States, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway. The first aircraft, which previously belonged to the Royal Danish Air Force, are now patrolling Ukrainian skies on air defense missions, although no attack operations have been recorded. Evidence suggests, as European government officials have indicated, that Ukraine is still on a long path toward achieving Full Operational Capability with this new platform.
To this end, pilot and crew training continues, while other efforts aimed at equipping the F-16s with the broadest array of available weaponry are also underway. In this context, according to a report by Politico, the Biden administration is analyzing the possibility and feasibility of transferring long-range AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface missiles, following in the footsteps of European allies such as the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, which have provided Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles to the Ukrainian Air Force, used by Su-24 aircraft in strike missions against Russian targets.
According to Politico, various voices within both the government and the U.S. Congress, observing the advances made by Ukrainian forces in Kursk, are advocating for the transfer of greater combat capabilities to Ukraine to sustain attacks on Russian territory. It is important to recall that, weeks ago, several allies gave the Ukrainian government the green light to conduct attacks on military targets within Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons.
When asked about this, the Pentagon did not issue any further statements indicating a possible shipment of JASSM missiles to Ukraine. However, in the words of its spokesperson, Jeff Jurgensen, they stated: “We are considering a variety of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance needs; however, we have no information to provide at this time.”
While these may be rumors, as has happened in the past with other U.S. and European weapon systems, whenever these possibilities started to be discussed—such as with Abrams tanks, Patriot missiles, HIMARS, and, most recently, F-16s—they eventually came to fruition.
However, as with this type of capability, the transfer of AGM-158 JASSM missiles, with a range reported by Lockheed Martin of up to 500 nautical miles (depending on the version), requires complementary efforts. This is relevant because, if the decision is made to provide them to Ukraine, the platform that would launch them would be the F-16 fighters. It is also not unreasonable to assume that, as with the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, they could be deployed from Soviet-origin fighters and attack aircraft.
Currently, despite its years in service, the AGM-158 JASSM is one of the main air-to-surface missiles used by the United States Air Force, with F-15E and F-16 fighters as its airborne launch platforms, and in the future, it will be deployed on F-35 strike fighters. Strategic bombers such as the B-1B, B-2, and B-52H are also on this list.
Over the years, Lockheed Martin has refined the AGM-158 with new versions like the ER (Extended Range) and the LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile), designed for attacking surface targets such as ships. In terms of combat capability, it features a warhead equipped with 450 kilograms of explosives, which can be used to target fortified military installations.
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I wonder, like I am really curious, what would happen to the Kerch bridge if it were hit by 5 or 6 of these. Or better yet, 15 or 20. I think it would be interesting.