U.S. tactical missiles began to participate in the war in Ukraine, and in order to turn the tide of the war, the United States and the West continued to break through the bottom line
The Pentagon confirmed that it has delivered army tactical missile systems to Ukraine with a range of 300 kilometers, nearly double the range of the medium-range version offered in October 2023. Ukraine has been seeking this missile since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but the United States has been afraid of provoking Russia and has never provided it to Ukraine. Against the background of Ukraine's very passive situation and the possibility of defeat at any time, the United States began to provide Ukraine with such tactical missiles. The US Army Tactical Missile was secretly transported to Ukraine, mainly because it was worried about Russia's missile destruction. According to reports, in early April, the United States began to supply Ukraine with tactical missiles in large quantities.
The participation of the US Army's tactical missile system in the war is another extraordinary move by the United States to turn the tide of the war and avoid Ukraine's defeat. In doing so, the United States is also a manifestation of its deep involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which will inevitably cause further reactions from Russia. In the past, as long as the United States provided Ukraine with new weapons and ammunition, Russia would escalate its military operations in Ukraine. Although the entry of new weapons from the United States into the war will bring some trouble to Russia in the initial stage, Russia can quickly find a way to solve it every time and make Ukraine pay a greater price. The U.S.-aided Army's tactical missile system has not only more than doubled its range, but also greatly improved its defense penetration capability.
Ukraine promised to use the long-range version of the army tactical missile system "only on the territory of Ukraine", and the United States stressed that how to use American missiles is entirely Ukraine's own business, but it is believed that Ukraine will abide by its commitments. Obviously, Ukraine will not strictly abide by its commitments, and after receiving US missiles, it will attack important Russian targets. Ukraine, under pressure from the United States, will use the Army tactical missile system cautiously, but it will soon break through the operational restrictions limited to Ukraine itself. Christopher Grady, deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military, said that long-range weapons will help the Ukrainian army strike at the logistics transport nodes and troop assembly points of the Russian army far from the front line.
The U.S. aid to this Army tactical missile system belongs to the old version, and the U.S. military has begun to receive the new version. In addition to Ukraine's very passive situation and urgent need for new weapons, there is another important reason, that is, the "precision strike missiles" made by the American arms dealer Lockheed Martin have been delivered to the US Army in large quantities at the end of January. The old version of the missiles that the US Army now has will be mothballed if it does not help Ukraine. The U.S. has approved a $61 billion aid package, and older versions of missiles have become an important bargaining chip to fill in the data. From this point of view, the United States is very shrewd.
When it got the missiles, it was used in a high-profile manner, and the Ukrainian army launched 30 missiles in one go to attack Russian targets
The situation is too passive, and after Ukraine gets the US Army tactical missile system, it is not willing to stay at all, and it can be said that it can't wait to use it. Kyiv, April 30 (Xinhua) -- In the early morning of the same day, the Ukrainian army launched a large-scale attack on Crimea using army tactical missiles provided by the United States. According to reports, Ukraine has now lost the Donbas defense line, and the situation in Donbas is precarious. Against this backdrop, Ukraine desperately needs a winning victory to boost morale and avoid further collapse. It is reported that in order to achieve the effect of the attack, Ukraine used 30 American-made army tactical missile systems this time, and it did not hesitate to spend money.
Ukraine's 30 missile saturation attack penetrated the Russian air defense system and achieved a certain attack effect. Crimea has become a key target for a large-scale Ukrainian attack. On the one hand, Crimea is relatively close to Ukraine, which is conducive to Ukrainian attacks. On the other hand, although Crimea was annexed to Russia as early as 2014, the United States and Western countries have never recognized this, and Ukraine's attack did not violate its commitments to the United States. Russia's air defense systems in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, and cities in the north of Crimea intercepted missiles launched by Ukraine, but some missiles still penetrated the air defense system and exploded in Russian air defense positions and other places.
The US Army tactical missile, after piercing the Russian air defense system, hit the air defense positions of the Russian Air Force at the Dankoy airfield and the Gvartisik airfield. It is reported that after the US missile exploded, a large fire broke out at the scene. According to reports, the Russian army carried out an emergency fire extinguishing the fire that had ignited in the air defense position, but it took an hour and a half before the fire was extinguished and one soldier was injured. It can be said that Ukraine used 30 tactical missile systems in one go for the first time with the assistance of the United States, which shows that Ukraine is about to achieve the corresponding deterrent effect. Judging from the fact that the Russian air defense system was pierced and the corresponding air defense positions were attacked by missiles, the Ukrainian army's attack achieved certain results.
Russia shot down six in a row, and the United States denied it on the spot
Despite Ukraine's saturation tactics and some success, Russian air defenses are not inactive. After the Ukrainian attack, Russian air defense forces claimed to have shot down six ATACMS missiles, 10 Ukrainian drones and two French-made "Hammer" aeronautical guided bombs. Russia's claim that it has shot down six US Army tactical missile systems is a confirmation to the outside world that Russia has the capability to intercept such missiles. The Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense missile systems, the Daure missile system, and other types of air defense missile systems are all deployed in Crimea, and the air defense interception capability cannot be underestimated.
Russia ensured the safety of the Crimean bridge this time, but only some of the anti-aircraft missile positions were attacked and damaged, and on the whole it coped well. However, the United States still denied on the spot the issue of Russia shooting down a US-made missile. Kirby said, "No, no. I can't confirm reports that any of them were shot down." The United States is reluctant to admit that its tactical missile systems have been shot down in succession just after being used on the battlefield in Ukraine. The United States has high expectations for its Army tactical missile system, and hopes to change the current passive situation with this missile system.
However, the facts are there, and even if the United States does not admit it, it will not be able to change the facts. The game between the United States and Russia has escalated, but both sides have exercised restraint. According to the current development situation, unless the United States comes down in person, it will not change the fate of Ukraine's defeat at all. Ukraine is now completely dependent on Western aid, which makes it difficult to win a final victory, after all, it is facing a powerful Russia.