Requests and offers: AGM-158 JASSM missiles for Ukraine
AGM-158 JASSM missile in flight
The Kiev regime again dreams of obtaining a foreign “miracle”weapons”, which is sure to change the course of hostilities and help him defeat Russia. This time, American-made AGM-158 JASSM air-launched cruise missiles are considered in this role. Such products are proposed to be used against various objects in the Crimea. However, potential suppliers are in no hurry to provide Ukraine with the desired missiles.
Suggestions and wishes
The current Ukrainian leadership has long been talking about the need to obtain foreign long-range missile systems. To date, such demands have been partially satisfied - the UK and France have provided their air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) of the Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG type. In addition, there are statements about the need to supply similar products from the United States.
Thus, the topic of foreign missiles was raised in May by the American center RAND. In his next publication, he pointed out the fundamental possibility of sending AGM-158 JASSM missiles to Ukraine. Center analysts believe that the Kiev regime could use such ALCMs to attack Russian military installations and infrastructure in Crimea. Wherein aviation missiles can become a kind of replacement for ATACMS ground systems, which are not yet delivered to Ukraine.
The RAND Center is considered a respected organization, and the American leadership often listens to its opinion. However, his proposal to send cruise missiles to Ukraine appears to have fallen on deaf ears. The United States has not yet indicated its desire to separate AGM-158 products.
The process of suspension JASSM-ER on the F-16 aircraft
The topic of JASSM missiles was again raised by Forbes in its August 21 publication. It reviewed foreign plans to supply F-16 fighter jets and tried to anticipate what munitions might be sent to Ukraine along with them. In general, it becomes possible in principle to provide a variety of missiles and bombs with different characteristics and capabilities.
Of greatest interest in this context, according to Forbes, is the AGM-158 cruise missile. According to the publication, such a product is already on the wish list of the Kyiv regime. However, the United States has not yet approved the delivery of such missiles.
The publication believes that the receipt of JASSM will allow Kyiv to fully use the potential of the F-16 fighters. These aircraft cannot use Storm Shadow or SCALP-EG missiles and therefore their strike potential is limited. AGM-158s are already integrated into their weapons system, and this will allow them to take full advantage of the capabilities of the aircraft.
Uncertain prospects
Thus, the Kiev regime, together with the foreign press and analysts loyal to it, regularly mention the possibility and necessity of supplying long-range American ALCMs. At the same time, the White House and the Pentagon are not only in no hurry to provide such assistance, but also do not raise this topic. The reasons for this remain unknown, and any development of the situation can be expected.
It is quite possible that the United States will never share its JASSM missiles with Ukraine. They are ready to support the Kiev regime with a variety of materiel, but so far they have not started deliveries of long-range missiles. For example, discussions have been going on for more than a year about the possible transfer of the ATACMS fuel dispenser, but there is no positive decision and is not expected. The same can happen with aircraft missiles.
The reasons for this are simple. Washington intends to continue supporting the Kyiv regime, but at the same time wants to save money. The supply of AGM-158 or ATACMS products is unprofitable and impractical in this respect. In addition, the American leadership regularly claims that it does not approve of the use of the delivered weapons on the "generally recognized" territories of Russia. At the same time, it “insures” itself against negative consequences by refusing to supply certain samples.
At the same time, the United States does not object to the supply of weapons and equipment by other countries. So, they did not interfere with the UK and France to ship Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG missiles. It is possible that a similar scheme will be used with JASSM missiles. The supplier in this case will be a foreign operator or operators, and Washington will not oppose it.
Currently, the AGM-158 JASSM missile is in service with the tactical aviation of the US Air Force. Also, such weapons were supplied to Australia, Morocco, Poland and Finland. Among the buyers of JASSM there are active helpers of the Kyiv regime, and now they can give it cruise missiles.
Resetting the AGM-158B product from a fighter
Subject of interest
The future ALCM AGM-158 JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) was created in the second half of the nineties by Lockheed Martin by order of the US Air Force. Flight tests began at the end of the decade, and production began in 2001. Over the next few years, the refinement of the design continued, after which full-fledged deliveries of weapons to the troops began.
At the same time, the development of a deeply modernized AGM-158B JASSM-ER missile with improved on-board electronics and an increased flight range began. It has been tested since 2006 and entered service in 2014. Its first customers were the US Air Force and Navy.
The AGM-158 product is a stealthy subsonic cruise missile designed to destroy distant ground targets with known coordinates. It can be used by a wide range of tactical and strategic combat aircraft developed by the United States, which are in service with a number of countries.
The missile is built in a body 4,3 m long, 550 mm wide and has a characteristic exterior formed by curved surfaces and smooth edges. There is a wing and empennage that can be deployed in flight. The launch weight is 1021 kg, which to a certain extent reduces the requirements for a potential carrier. The upgraded JASSM-ER is wider and heavier. Due to the weight of up to 1200 kg, it was possible to increase the amount of fuel and increase the flight range.
The use of JASSM missiles by a long-range bomber
The AGM-158 is powered by a Teledyne CAE J402-CA-100 turbojet engine, which provides high subsonic flight speeds and a range of 370 km. The AGM-158B uses the Williams F107-WR-105 engine. Due to the larger fuel supply, the range exceeds 920 km.
All versions of JASSM have a combined control and guidance system. The flight to the target area is carried out by means of satellite and inertial navigation. For search and guidance in the final section of the trajectory, an infrared seeker of type IIR is responsible. The QUO is declared no more than a few meters.
On board the AGM-158 missiles there is a penetrating high-explosive warhead WDU-42 / B weighing 450 kg. Undermining is carried out upon contact with the target or with a delay, inside it.
Target for air defense
Whether the United States decides to send JASSM missiles to Ukraine is still unknown. However, one can already imagine what the consequences of such deliveries will be. It should be expected that the appearance of new American ALCMs in the combat zone will add to the work of the Russian air defense and combat aviation, but will not affect the course of events.
From an air defense point of view, the AGM-158 missile is a subsonic aerodynamic target, likely with limited radar visibility. In this regard, it practically does not differ from the Anglo-French products delivered to Ukraine earlier. At the same time, Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG missiles are successfully intercepted by our air defense systems and, because of this, show extremely low efficiency. Similar results can be expected with the American JASSM.
Rocket hits target
American missiles are proposed to be used with the promised F-16 fighters. Such aircraft, unlike JASSM, are not even positioned as stealthy and are a fairly simple target for air defense systems or fighter aircraft. There is a high risk that the aircraft will be shot down on the way to the missile launch line, during the use of weapons or on the way out. In any case, this will lead to a reduction in the fleet of available carriers and worsen the prospects for missiles.
Requests and Reality
Thus, the Kyiv regime succeeded in begging American fighter jets from foreign partners and obtaining the corresponding promises. Now he is trying in the same way to get modern strike aircraft weapons. Whether he will be able to get JASSM cruise missiles is a big question. The United States is in no hurry to allocate such assistance, and the possibilities of third countries are limited.
However, it is not worth completely excluding the possibility of supplying such products, and such a possibility must be taken into account. Such a scenario is not positive, but does not give significant reasons for pessimism. AGM-158 missiles will add to the work of our air defense, but in general they have a chance to repeat the fate of other foreign products in Ukraine.
Information