Biden ‘open’ to providing Ukraine long-range missiles, according to Politico
The US government is allegedly making efforts to supply Kiev with the exclusive JASSM missiles for its F-16 fighters. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
According to a Politico report citing Biden administration officials, the U.S. White House is contemplating the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range JASSM cruise missiles. These missiles could enhance the combat capabilities of the already delivered F-16 jets.
Officials, who chose to remain anonymous, indicated that the delivery of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) hasn't been finalized yet. They shared that the Pentagon is currently navigating the intricate aspects of the potential transfer, which involve considerations related to sensitive technology and adapting Ukraine's jets to handle the 2,400-pound missile equipped with a 1,000-pound warhead.
The JASSM, a product of Lockheed Martin, has previously been allocated exclusively to a select group of key allies, as mentioned in the article.
Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen was quoted saying, “We consider a range of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance requirements,” though he did not confirm any finalized plans regarding the missile transfer.
According to the report, the JASSM represents one of the more advanced weapon systems that were once deemed too sensitive to send to Ukraine. Similar restrictions had previously applied to other significant military equipment such as F-16s, Abrams tanks, and Patriot air defense systems.
Despite an arsenal that includes air- and ground-launched missiles from the U.S, UK, and France capable of reaching targets nearly 200 miles away, Ukraine has been actively seeking the JASSM from the U.S. for several months.
The support for Ukraine extends beyond just missiles; a collection of Western countries has committed to providing over 80 F-16 fighters. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed that the initial set of these fighter jets has been received and are already in operation by Ukrainian pilots.
General Charles Q. Brown from the Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized the broader scope of support in remarks published by Politico, stating, "As we bring on the F-16s, it’s not only the airplanes, but the training of the pilots, the training of the maintainers – but also making sure we have the weapons to go with it. That is the dialogue we’re having, not only to get the airplanes but to get them to full capability.”
Despite the inflow of Western military support, Zelensky has acknowledged a shortage of qualified pilots to fly all the jets. However, he noted that extensive training is currently underway.
Amid these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that any base housing Ukrainian F-16s would be considered a valid military target, reinforcing the Kremlin's stance that Western military aid will not determine the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Officials, who chose to remain anonymous, indicated that the delivery of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) hasn't been finalized yet. They shared that the Pentagon is currently navigating the intricate aspects of the potential transfer, which involve considerations related to sensitive technology and adapting Ukraine's jets to handle the 2,400-pound missile equipped with a 1,000-pound warhead.
The JASSM, a product of Lockheed Martin, has previously been allocated exclusively to a select group of key allies, as mentioned in the article.
Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen was quoted saying, “We consider a range of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance requirements,” though he did not confirm any finalized plans regarding the missile transfer.
According to the report, the JASSM represents one of the more advanced weapon systems that were once deemed too sensitive to send to Ukraine. Similar restrictions had previously applied to other significant military equipment such as F-16s, Abrams tanks, and Patriot air defense systems.
Despite an arsenal that includes air- and ground-launched missiles from the U.S, UK, and France capable of reaching targets nearly 200 miles away, Ukraine has been actively seeking the JASSM from the U.S. for several months.
The support for Ukraine extends beyond just missiles; a collection of Western countries has committed to providing over 80 F-16 fighters. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed that the initial set of these fighter jets has been received and are already in operation by Ukrainian pilots.
General Charles Q. Brown from the Joint Chiefs of Staff emphasized the broader scope of support in remarks published by Politico, stating, "As we bring on the F-16s, it’s not only the airplanes, but the training of the pilots, the training of the maintainers – but also making sure we have the weapons to go with it. That is the dialogue we’re having, not only to get the airplanes but to get them to full capability.”
Despite the inflow of Western military support, Zelensky has acknowledged a shortage of qualified pilots to fly all the jets. However, he noted that extensive training is currently underway.
Amid these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that any base housing Ukrainian F-16s would be considered a valid military target, reinforcing the Kremlin's stance that Western military aid will not determine the outcome of the Ukrainian conflict.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
