The US Sends Long-Range JSOW Bombs to Ukraine: Key Details

President Joe Biden announced on September 26 one of the largest aid packages to Ukraine, totaling $7.9 billion. It boosts air defense, includes F-16 pilot training, and introduces a powerful new weapon: AGM-154 JSOW glide bombs, labeled “long-range” by the administration.

JSOW bomb capabilities

The AGM-154 was developed in the mid-1990s and entered service by 1999. The upgraded AGM-154 JSOW features advanced electronics and enhanced technology, making it a more capable weapon.

• Type: Glide bomb

• Weight: Up to 500 kg

• Range: Up to 130 km

Notably, JSOW bombs are fully compatible with Ukraine’s existing F-16 fighter jets.

Although referred to as “long-range,” their effectiveness depends heavily on the altitude of release.

When dropped from high altitude, the bomb can glide up to 130 km. However, if released from a low altitude, its range shrinks to about 22 km—six times less than the maximum claimed range.

Why does it matter? Russia’s robust air defense system forces Ukrainian aviation to avoid flying at high altitudes near the front lines. This raises doubts about whether the JSOW bombs can reach their full potential in Ukraine’s current battlefield conditions.

A clever solution

There’s a way to significantly boost the JSOW’s effectiveness and extend its range. A specialized version of the AGM-154, known as the JSOW-ER, comes with a small jet engine that increases its range to 550 km.

Although the U.S. discontinued the JSOW-ER program in 2022, the technology remains. It’s possible the U.S. reference to “long-range weapons” hinted at a potential modification of this bomb for extended strikes.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is also awaiting the potential delivery of another missile—the AGM-158 JASSM, an air-to-surface missile with an advanced version capable of reaching over 900 km.

Ukraine needs a diverse arsenal to strike Russian positions across multiple fronts. A sizable stockpile of cost-effective JSOW missiles would give Ukraine additional firepower to target Russian forces effectively.