U.S. cluster rockets like the M39 'are far and away the best additional weapon for this counteroffensive,' said former Ukrainian military adviser, Dan Rice.
reported that the U.S. was planning to send another tranche of DPICMs to Ukraine, citing three U.S. officials. One unidentified official said that cluster bombs were crucial in making sure Kyiv could sustain the momentum of its counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.'s ATACMS, reports suggested the U.S. would not commit the surface-to-surface system to Kyiv. It is not expected to feature in the upcoming military aid package, Reuters reported.
General Mark Milley, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Defense One in March that the U.S. has"relatively few ATACMS," and that Washington needed to maintain its own stocks. However, Washington does have stocks of M39 rockets, with a range of 100 miles, and M26A1 rockets, which have a range of 28 miles, that are scheduled to be destroyed. These HIMARS cluster munitions should be redirected to Ukraine, Rice said.
Ukraine has repeatedly petitioned the U.S. to provide ATACMS, and bolster its ability to strike deep behind Russia's well-defended front lines.However, there are"also many additional options that could be lesser range" than the 300-kilometer, or 186-mile, ATACMS, Rice said. These could also have a"significant impact for the counteroffensive."
Currently, HIMARS are only used by Ukraine against command and control centers and supply depots, he said, rather than on the front line against a wider range of targets or counter-battery fire. This is where M26, M26A1 and M39 rockets could be used to directly support the gruelling counteroffensive efforts.
Using HIMARS launchers, Ukraine would be able to reach further behind the front lines than it can using its current cluster munitions, Rice said. Kyiv has been using their donated HIMARS effectively for over a year, and they have become one of the staples of the artillery battle dominating the almost 19-month old war.
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