The Kremlin has announced that Ukraine is utilizing recently acquired US-made mobile surface-to-surface missile systems to target Russian military assets in the occupied Crimean peninsula.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops launched four tactical ATACMS missiles on Friday night, which were intercepted and shot down by Russia’s air defense system. The attacks targeted Russian training facilities in Crimea and mark the second use of the US-made portable missile systems in approximately five days.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces deployed three ATACMS missiles to target Russian forces in Crimea, resulting in an estimated 100 Russian military personnel killed and a Russian surface-to-air missile defense system destroyed in Dzhankoy, according to analysts with the US-based Institute for the Study of War.
Ukrainian forces deployed three ATACMS missiles (Credits: The Telegraph)
The army tactical missile system, commonly referred to as ATACMS, is designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Ling-Temco-Vought. The system provides military commanders with immediate firepower to reshape the battle space.
Each surface-to-surface missile can carry up to a 500-pound fragmentation warhead and other ordinance, with a maximum range of approximately 185 miles and a GPS guidance system. The missiles use solid rocket fuel to propel them to a maximum flight ceiling of 160,000 feet at up to Mach 3.
ATACMS missiles (Credits: Euronews.com)
The missiles were part of a military aid package signed into law by President Joe Biden on April 24 to help Ukraine defend against Russia, which invaded the nation two years ago. This development marks a huge escalation in Ukraine’s military capabilities and its efforts to counter Russian aggression in the region.
