US officials have indicated that the United States is nearing an agreement to provide Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles that are capable of reaching deep into Russia. But they will probably need several months to get shipped.
According to three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the inclusion of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) in a forthcoming weapons package is anticipated to be announced this autumn. However, a final decision has yet to be made.
The introduction of JASSMs to Ukraine's inventory could potentially push Russian staging areas and supply depots hundreds of kilometers further from the front lines.
In its initial AGM-158A form, the JASSM has a range of approximately 330 miles and weighs 2,250 pounds. The extended-range AGM-158B variant, known as JASSM-ER, boasts a publicly stated range of at least 575 miles.
