The White House is considering sending long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, which could provide previously transferred F-16 jets with greater combat ability in their ongoing conflict with Russia. Politico reported on Thursday that unnamed officials within the Biden administration have revealed that no final decision has been made, but the Pentagon is currently working through the complex details of the potential transfer.
One of the main issues being considered is a review of the transfer of sensitive technologies, as well as ensuring Ukraine’s jets can launch the 2,400-pound Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), which carries a 1,000-pound warhead. Developed by Lockheed Martin, the JASSM has been shared with only a handful of close allies.
Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen confirmed that “We consider a range of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance requirements,” but did not confirm whether any transfer had been approved. The JASSM missiles represent the latest in a long line of sophisticated weaponry once considered off-limits for transfer to Ukraine.
Ukraine has already received air- and ground-launched missiles from the US, UK, and France that can reach nearly 200 miles from their launch point; however, they have been pressing the US to supply JASSM missiles for months. A host of Western nations have pledged to provide Ukraine with more than 80 F-16 fighters, with the first batch already in use by Ukrainian pilots.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky admitted that there are not enough pilots to fly all of the jets pledged by the West but stated that many individuals are currently undergoing training. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any base hosting Ukrainian F-16s would become a legitimate target for the Russian military, while the Kremlin has declared that no amount of Western hardware will win the conflict for Ukraine.