Republican senators urge Biden to supply ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.

In the ongoing saga of missile deliveries to Ukraine, the American ATACMS appears as a much-desired asset, on par with Germany's Taurus missile. In the latest development of this series, four Republican senators are pressing U.S. President Joe Biden to expedite the delivery of long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missiles to Ukraine.
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M270 MLRS launching ATACMS (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

"We strongly recommend that you promptly dispatch MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems to Ukraine. Any further delay compromises U.S. national security and prolongs the ongoing conflict," said the four senators in their address to the American president, urging him to deliver the ATACMS missiles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as soon as possible.

According to the senators, providing ATACMS to Ukraine would enable the country to target crucial Russian logistical and communication centers, as well as missile and drone launch sites in areas of Ukraine under Russian control. However, the United States has always refrained from delivering any ATACMS for fear that the Ukrainians might use them to directly strike Russian territory. The senators emphasized the importance of sending the unitary warhead variant of the ATACMS without further delay. They cited the recent Ukrainian attack on the Sevastopol naval port using the British-made Storm Shadow long-range missile as evidence of the effectiveness of such weapons on the battlefield. The statement further elaborated that arming Ukraine with these missiles would significantly increase the chances of success in its ongoing counteroffensive and future military operations. The ATACMS would also bolster Ukraine's capabilities to dismantle Russian defense structures.

The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a short-range tactical ballistic missile designed and manufactured in the United States. It has a margin of error of around 10 meters or less, achieved through its advanced guidance systems, which utilize a combination of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS). Its launch weight varies between 1,600 and 2,300 kg, depending on the specific variant of the missile. The missile is capable of reaching speeds of approximately Mach 3, or around 3,700 km/h, allowing it to cover a range of 160 to 300 km.

The missile's dimensions are as follows: a length of 5.75 meters, a width of 2.49 meters, and a height of 2.4 meters. The ATACMS is designed to fit into launcher vehicles like the M270 and M142 HIMARS MLRS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Multiple Launch Rocket System), currently used by the Ukrainian military. These launcher vehicles provide the ATACMS with the mobility and flexibility it needs for rapid and efficient deployment.

The saga of the ATACMS missiles continues, but for now, no official statement has been made by Joe Biden's government. However, discussions are reportedly underway with Germany concerning this said delivery, involving the ATACMS for the U.S. and the Taurus for Germany.