US considering delivery
Will Ukraine soon be able to use “smart bombs”?
12/15/2022, 7:10 am
Ukraine has repeatedly celebrated successes in the Russian invasion war with the HIMARS rocket launcher precision system. Now, a US technology could upgrade Ukraine’s weapons. Unguided rockets then become intelligent ones.
According to a newspaper report, the USA is providing Ukraine with precision military components. With the help of the special electronic equipment, unguided rockets can be converted into “smart bombs”, self-guiding missiles, and achieve a high degree of targeting accuracy, the reports “Washington Post” citing US government officials familiar with the matter.
The loadout kit contains positioning devices that can be bolted onto a variety of weapons and are designed to increase their accuracy. The Pentagon calls the system Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). The US military uses the technology on bombs weighing less than a ton, typically in combination with bombers and fighter jets.
According to the newspaper, it is still unclear whether Ukraine will use the system for aircraft or ground-based weapons. The Ukrainian Air Force primarily relies on outdated Soviet-era MiG jets. Rather than deliver newer Western aircraft that would require complicated new training for pilots and maintenance units, the JDAM system would be a quick and effective upgrade.
The delivery of the system would be another important step by Washington in helping Ukraine repel invading Russian forces and would provide a new opportunity to hit Russian units and headquarters. Since June, Ukraine has relied heavily on the US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher artillery system. According to Ukrainian and American officials, this has resulted in significant casualties among Russian troops and the disruption of supply lines.