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Ukraine - MGM-140 ATACMS - 2024

The United States had transferred ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers to Ukraine since March 2024, several senior US officials said 24 April 2024. This was not officially reported. It was believed that the United States, starting last fall, supplied Ukraine only with ATACMS of shorter range, up to approximately 160 kilometers. Officials said the long-range missiles were part of a $300 million military aid package approved in March. According to them, it was the long-range ATACMS that was struck on April 17 at a military airfield in annexed Crimea. It was located 165 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

The Biden administration had debated for months whether to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles. The Pentagon opposed it, fearing that it would reduce the defense capabilities of the American army. There had also been concerns that Ukraine will use long-range ATACMS to strike targets deep inside Russia. The administration's decision was influenced by the fact that in December and January Russia began using North Korean-made long-range missiles to attack Ukraine. In mid-February, President Biden met with his National Security Council and approved the delivery of long-range ATACMS to Ukraine.

David Axe, Forbes Staff writer, reported 05 August 2024 that Ukrainian officials had been asking their foreign allies for several months to allow long-range missiles to hit Russian airfields located relatively close to the Ukrainian border. This would make it possible to destroy the military planes of the Russians, which were standing there in the open sky. But for months, allies balked, citing the risk of escalation.

Because of this, Ukrainian troops intensified their attacks on the most vulnerable Russian airfields, using Ukrainian-made weapons. On August 3, Ukrainian drones targeted the Morozovsk air base in the Rostov region, located 265 kilometers from the front line. As a result of the attack, an Su-34 fighter-bomber of the Russian Air Force was destroyed, two more Su-34s were damaged and an ammunition depot was burned. Forbes explained that by attacking airfields, including Morozovsk, the Ukrainian military was trying to stop the Russian campaign of bombing Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles.

In particular, the publication writes that at the beginning of this summer, the Ukrainian military had the opportunity to inflict a serious blow on the infrastructure that provides strikes on Ukraine with these bombs. Then the 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment of the Russian Air Force openly stationed dozens of Su-34s at the Malshevo Air Base in Russia's Voronezh Region, 160 km away. These planes are carriers of guided aerial bombs. Since the air base was well protected, Ukraine asked the US for permission to hit it with long-range ATACMS missiles, because they are difficult to intercept. But the Administration of President Joe Biden responded with a categorical refusal.

At the same time, as Forbes writes, "the Russians noticed the 'hot' diplomacy regarding ATACMS" and made a rare decision to preempt. They withdrew Su-34 aircraft from Malyshevo and other border areas. It was noted that today many Su-34s are at bases hundreds of kilometers from the border with Ukraine. And they are invulnerable to Ukrainian drones and ATACMS provided by the Ukrainian military. If the White House ever authorizes ATACMS strikes against Russian bases, it may be too late, as the most valuable targets may be too far away.

Forbes notes that several Su-34s, as well as some stocks of KABs, remain at border airfields such as Morozovsk. But in order to stop the KAB bombing campaign, Ukraine needs to destroy dozens of Su-34s. And more intelligent Russian deployment makes this achievement more difficult. Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that on the night of August 3, the Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region of Russia. According to the General Staff, hits were recorded in warehouses with ammunition, where, in particular, guided aerial bombs were stored. According to space intelligence, the Su-34 fighter-bomber and the ammunition warehouse were destroyed as a result of the damage to the Morozovsk airfield . Two more Su-34s were damaged.