The new U.S. aid package will include ground-launched bomb-tipped missiles, which are to be ordered from Boeing Co. The aid will be announced today, Bloomberg reports, citing officials.
The long-range hybrid weapon combines two proven devices: an Air Force Small-Diameter Bomb guided by GPS satellites that’s currently in wide use and an Army rocket already being operated by Ukraine’s forces. Like some other equipment provided by the US and allies, it won’t be deployed in Ukraine anytime soon: An industry official said it would take about nine months for the first deliveries once the Air Force issues a contract.
Funding for these rockets will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. No more than $200 million would be allocated to the Boeing weapon, according to one of the officials. An additional $475 million also will be announced Friday, including additional Claymore antipersonnel mines, winter parkas, GPS-guided 155mm Excalibur rounds, Patriot missile support equipment and Mk 153 shoulder-fired rocket launchers, according to a US official familiar with the list.
Boeing’s new bomb-tipped rocket has been tested three times since 2015 in partnership with Saab AB of Sweden. In an exercise, it flew more than 81 miles (130 kilometres) and hit a target within 40 inches (102 centimetres) of its GPS goal, according to an industry official familiar with the results. That’s roughly double the range of the current rockets fired from Himars launchers that have become a prized asset for Ukrainian forces.
Boeing said in a statement that this order would mark the first sale of the weapon.
Several days ago, Reuters wrote about the plan to transfer such missiles to Ukraine. They have a range of up to 150 kilometres.