16 SEPTEMBER 2023
The United States and Germany are discussing the transfer of ATACMS and Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that it is up to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to decide how they will use the US missiles.
Source: joint press conference of Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock; European Pravda
Details: Blinken, commenting on the possibility of providing ATACMS missiles, noted that when transferring each weapons system to Ukraine, a number of factors are taken into account.
“Ukrainians should be able to use them effectively. Also, new complex systems require maintenance, and, of course, we do this. They need to be able to maintain them on time, and this doesn’t happen automatically. And then they should fit into a holistic military programme that makes sense to help Ukraine achieve its goals,” the Secretary of State stressed.
He added that the way Ukrainians use these weapons is “their business”.
“And it’s up to them to make decisions about what can be most effective when it comes to restoring their territorial integrity. In line with our own policy, we do not encourage or allow the use of our weapons systems outside of Ukraine. But again, this is the decision of Ukraine,” Blinken said.
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/09/16/7420059/
“Ukrainians should be able to use them effectively. Also, new complex systems require maintenance, and, of course, we do this. They need to be able to maintain them on time, and this doesn’t happen automatically. And then they should fit into a holistic military programme that makes sense to help Ukraine achieve its goals,”
I do suppose that this means Ukraine can use them on mafia territory? This would be an important matter and make the missiles much more effective in helping to get rid of the ruskie scourge.
We’ve seen nothing but competence in Ukraine’s ability to use effectively and to maintain properly all weapons it was given. The ATACMS will not be any different.
Obvious point I know : they must send full ATACMS systems, not waste time recalibrating existing HIMARS systems.
Situation is critical and urgent.
I think it’s just a software update, not a recalibration.
They are a much larger missile that requires different launcher. In that sense, the current launchers would need to be re-calibre-ated. The hope is that additional launch vehicles outfitted for the new missiles would be delivered.
They were already built compatible, but the the software was not updated for it.
“They are a much larger missile that requires different launcher.”
I believe it’s a different launch pod, but the same launchers can fire either the ATACMS or a MLRS pod.
“I think it’s just a software update, not a recalibration.”
I believe that when the US first supplied the MLRS launchers, the software was modified to prevent the missiles being fired into Russia. So, they’d need a software update (or new launchers without that modification) if Blinken is really saying that Ukraine can fire the ATACMS wherever Ukraine believes they’ll do the most good.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-altered-himars-rocket-launchers-to-keep-ukraine-from-firing-missiles-into-russia-11670214338
They may be used against and inside Russia……………(We, America, dont like that, but the veto is gone, Blinken)
IF the ATACMS won’t be manipulated to prevent their use inside mafia land.
“we do not encourage or allow the use of our weapons systems outside of Ukraine. But again, this is the decision of Ukraine,” Blinken said.”
Double speak? On the one hand but on the other hand?
Being forthright would be a real nice change at the WH.
I think we can forget the Biden administration to be forthright.