The Pentagon has tested a new long-range precision bomb destined for Ukraine, with the first batch to be delivered on Wednesday. According to four people familiar with the matter, Ukraine will receive the first batch of the ground-launched small-diameter bombs on Wednesday – a brand new Boeing-made weapon that even the US does not have, on Tuesday, the 30th of January, reports Politico.
According to a US official, the new bomb, capable of a range of about 90 miles (145 km), is seen as a major boost to Ukraine’s capabilities, providing deeper strike capabilities and expanding its long-range arsenal.
Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder declined to comment on the delivery of the new bomb to Ukraine, citing operational security concerns. He told reporters on Tuesday that the deliveries would be discussed only with Ukraine, stressing that cooperation with Ukraine and industry partners was ongoing to ensure the rapid and efficient delivery and integration of the weapons.
The weapon, jointly developed by Boeing and Saab,
would consist of a 250-pound (113 kg) bomb attached to a rocket engine and fired from various ground launchers.
Unlike the US inventory, which includes an air-launched version, this ground-launched variant is said to be a new technology, complementing other long-range weapons that Ukraine has recently received, which allow strikes against Russian logistical and naval targets.
Despite the lack of new funds for the delivery of weapons to the US, the contract signed last year with Boeing allows the delivery of these weapons to Kyiv.
Ukraine will be the first country to use the new bomb in combat operations, making it an important testing ground for other countries that have started acquiring long-range munitions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to an industry source, the army oversaw the testing of the new weapon before giving its approval to send it to Ukraine.
Although the air-launched version was developed in 2019, the companies sold it only after the US decided to donate it to Ukraine as part of an aid package.
Also read: EU backs redirecting profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine
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