US Considers Sending Long-Range Missiles JASSM for Ukrainian F-16s Amid Kursk Incursion

The White House is reportedly open to providing Ukraine with the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), a move that coincides with Kyiv’s surprisingly successful ground assault deep inside Russia, now entering its second week. This operation has not only embarrassed Vladimir Putin but has also forced him to redirect troops from the Ukrainian battlefield.

“We consider a range of options to meet Ukraine’s security assistance requirements, however, we have no information to provide,” said Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen.

The debate over the JASSM and the Biden administration’s willingness to explore its transfer highlights the missile as the latest in a series of sophisticated weapons once considered off-limits for Ukraine.

Some members of Congress and political opponents have criticized the administration for moving too slowly in providing Kyiv with the equipment it needs to win the war. Yet, in just 30 months, the approvals of F-16s, Abrams tanks, cruise missiles, Patriot air defenses, and modern infantry carriers have transformed Ukraine’s Soviet-era military into one of Europe’s battlefield powerhouses.

The potential delivery of the JASSM comes as President Joe Biden nears the end of his term, raising uncertainty about the future level of US support for Ukraine should former President Donald Trump return to office. These air-launched missiles would grant the Ukrainian air force a capability shared by only a few nations: the ability to launch a cruise missile over 200 miles from a US-made fourth-generation fighter jet.

While talks continue within the White House and the Pentagon, an administration official noted that significant work is still required before any missiles can be sent to Ukraine. This includes verifying that Kyiv’s Soviet-era planes and newly acquired F-16s can successfully launch the missile at targets over 230 miles away. The Pentagon is already assisting Ukraine with these technical challenges, according to insiders.

The JASSM, developed by Lockheed Martin and first deployed in the early 2000s, has been used sparingly by the US in combat and has been shared only with a select group of close allies. Ukraine already possesses both air and ground-launched missiles provided by the US, UK, and France, capable of reaching nearly 200 miles from their launch points. However, restrictions on the use of these missiles inside Russia remain in place, limiting their deployment to just over the border and for self-defense purposes only.

Despite these restrictions, Ukrainian officials are pushing the US to ease its rules, especially as Russian fighter jets, safely operating within Russian territory, continue to launch glide bombs at Ukrainian cities, causing civilian casualties. The situation is further complicated by Russia moving its aircraft out of range of Ukraine’s current missiles in May, making direct strikes on Russian bases more difficult.

In recent months, Ukrainian parliamentarians and advisers to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have increased their lobbying efforts with US officials and lawmakers to secure the JASSM. This campaign intensified during a July visit by Ukrainian parliamentarians to Washington.

Previously, at the 75th NATO summit in Washington, Zelenskyy urged Western officials to lift restrictions on strikes using long-range missiles on military targets within the Russian Federation.