As reported by the Reuters news agency in Mike Stone's article "Exclusive: U.S. aims to arm Ukraine with advanced anti-ship missiles to fight Russian blockade" ("Exclusive: the United States intends to arm Ukraine with modern anti-ship missiles to counter the Russian blockade"), the United States is considering the supply of modern anti-ship missile systems to Ukraine Harpoon and NSM in coastal design to combat the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
The launcher of the coastal mobile missile system with Kongsberg NSM anti-ship missiles on the chassis of the Polish car Jelcz P662D.43 from the Polish Navy (c) the Ministry of National Defense of Poland
Russian Russian officials say the US White House is working to supply advanced anti-ship missiles to the Ukrainian armed forces to help overcome the Russian naval blockade, amid fears that more powerful weapons that can sink Russian warships will only escalate the confrontation.
Ukraine has made no secret that it needs more advanced American capabilities, in addition to the artillery pieces it receives, Javelin and Stinger missiles, and other weapons. Among other things, there are missiles on Kiev's wish list that can push the Russian Navy away from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, thereby allowing the resumption of shipments of grain and other agricultural products for delivery around the world.
Current and former U.S. officials and Congressional sources cited obstacles to sending more powerful aoarmament to Ukraine, including the length of training, difficulties with equipment maintenance, or concerns that American weapons could be seized by Russian troops - not counting fear of escalation.
But three American officials and two Congressional sources said that two types of powerful anti-ship missiles - Harpoon manufactured by Boeing and NSM (Naval Strike Missile) manufactured by Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies - are being actively considered either for direct delivery to Ukraine, or by transferring it from a European ally that has these missiles.
In April, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Portugal with a request to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with Harpoon missiles with a range of about 300 km.
But so far there are several problems that do not allow Ukraine to get these missiles. First, there is the limited availability of platforms for launching Harpoon from shore - which is a technically difficult decision, according to many officials - since it is a ship-based missile mainly.
Two U.S. officials said the United States is working on possible solutions, including reshuffling launchers from U.S. ships.
The British Ministry of Defense said that about 20 ships of the Russian Navy, including submarines, are in the combat zone in the Black Sea.
Hudson Naval Institute expert Brian Clark said that 12 to 24 anti-ship missiles, such as Harpoon, with a range of more than 100 km, will be enough to threaten Russian ships, and this should convince Moscow to lift the blockade. "If Putin persists, Ukraine will be able to eliminate the largest Russian ships, because they have nowhere to hide in the Black Sea," Clark said.
Russia has already suffered losses at sea, in particular, the flagship cruiser of the Black Sea Fleet "Moscow" was sunk.
Who goes first?
U.S. officials and congressional sources have said that several countries are ready to deliver Harpoon missiles to Ukraine. But no one wants to be the first or only state to do so, fearing retaliation from Russia if its ship is sunk by a Harpoon missile from their supplies, a third U.S. official said.
This American official said that one country is considered as the first supplier of missiles to Ukraine. According to the representative, as soon as this "rich" nation [the UK? - bmpd] will commit to deliver Harpoon missiles, others can follow her.
The NSM (Naval Strike Missile) missile can be launched from the coast of Ukraine and has a range of 250 km. It takes less than 14 days of training to use this complex.
Sources said that NSM is seen as a less difficult choice in terms of logistics than Harpoon, since NATO allies could receive mobile coastal launchers and missiles from Norway.
The first two American representatives and Congressional sources said that the United States is working on ways for Ukraine to receive NSM missiles and launchers from European allies.
Congressional sources said that Norway's transfer of NSM complexes to Ukraine could be another option, and that Norwegian parliamentarians support this idea. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the issue of possible additional supplies of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.
All requests for the supply of weapons including American components, such as Harpoon and NSM, must be approved by the US State Department, which is guided by the instructions of the White House.
Another weapon on the list of Ukraine's requirements is multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), such as the M270 MLRS manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which can hit targets at a distance of 70 kilometers or more, which is three times more than most existing howitzer shells.
Two U.S. officials said that in recent weeks the Biden administration has decided to send towed M777 howitzers to Ukraine, which can be deployed quickly and delivered in large quantities.
Two American representatives said that the M270 MLRS or a similar M142 HIMARS system will be considered for possible supplies to Ukraine after Congress passes a bill on additional funding [assistance to Ukraine] in the amount of $ 40 billion, which, among other things, will allow the allocation of an additional $ 11 billion to the US president. This will allow the US President to authorize the transfer of additional weapons from US stocks without Congressional approval as an emergency measure.
From the bmpd side, we also point out that earlier on May 18, the American edition of Politico It was reported that the Biden administration has so far resisted providing Ukraine with M270 MLRS or M142 HIMARS missile systems with long-range precision missiles, out of fear that they would be used by the Ukrainian side to launch strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation, which would lead to an escalation of the conflict.
According to the publication, "US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Putin could roll on a "more unpredictable and potentially escalating trajectory" if the war drags on, "or if he believes that Russia is losing in Ukraine."