The United States has secretly modified HIMARS rocket launchers handed over to Ukraine to prevent their use for launching longer-range missiles, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing US administration officials.
According to the sources of the publication, the changes were made to avoid risk.wider war with Russia“. As a result of the modifications, the HIMARS launchers transferred to Kyiv are not capable of launching ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 km.
The Ukrainians have been asking for these missiles for a long time, but the White House has consistently denied them. As President Joe Biden said in November, he did this because he did not want the Ukrainians to be able to strike at Russian territory. Earlier, the Pentagon explained that most of the targets for the Ukrainian troops are within the range of the GMLRS missiles delivered to Ukraine, that is, 70-80 km.
However, according to Reuters, the Pentagon is now considering the production of GLSDB missiles for Ukraine with a range of 150 km. The U.S. has also previously supplied HARM anti-radar missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, but these have a narrower use than those issued from HIMARS.
Pentagon Speaker General Patrick Ryder declined to comment on the WSJ exposure for reasonsoperational security“.
“The United States remains committed to giving Ukraine the capabilities it needs to counter Russian aggression“, - he said.
Recall that the Institute for the Study of War told about the innovative tactics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which made it possible to recapture Kherson: no one has used HIMARS like that yet.
Source: Fakty
