U.S. considers supplying JASSM cruise missiles to Ukraine, Politico reports

In an exclusive report, Politico reveals that the Biden administration is “open” to providing Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) to Ukraine, marking a potential significant escalation in U.S. military aid. This long-range cruise missile, if approved, would dramatically enhance Ukraine’s strike capabilities in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

U.S. Air Force Major Jacob Rohrbach, a pilot assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, releases the first Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range, or JASSM-ER, from an F-16 over the Gulf of Mexico on September 19th, 2018. The test gathered data on safe separation and software integration of the JASSM-ER, and demonstrated the Eglin test range’s ability to monitor and control test items in flight over the Gulf of Mexico.

According to anonymous sources within the administration, no final decision has been made, but officials are actively working through the complex details of such a transfer. These include sensitive technology reviews and ensuring compatibility with Ukraine’s existing and incoming aircraft fleet, particularly the recently approved F-16 fighters.

The JASSM, a Lockheed Martin product with a range exceeding 200 miles and carrying a 1,000-pound warhead, would give Ukraine a standoff capability possessed by only a handful of nations. This consideration comes in the wake of Ukraine’s recent successful ground assaults inside Russian territory, which have reportedly forced Russia to redirect troops from the main battlefront.

Currently, U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine are restricted from use deep inside Russian territory, a limitation that has frustrated Kyiv. The potential JASSM transfer could signal a shift in this policy, though details on usage restrictions remain unclear.

Lockheed Martin is reportedly ramping up JASSM production to approximately 45 missiles per month, aiming for a U.S. stockpile of 7,200 missiles. This increased production capacity could facilitate potential transfers to Ukraine without significantly impacting U.S. inventories.

The Pentagon has shown receptiveness to the idea, partly due to the JASSM’s reported resistance to Russian jamming techniques that have affected other precision-guided munitions. However, Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen declined to comment specifically on the JASSM, stating only that a range of options are under consideration for Ukraine’s security assistance.

This development aligns with the broader trend of increasingly sophisticated Western weaponry being supplied to Ukraine, transforming its Soviet-era military into a more modernized force. However, significant technical and political hurdles remain before any potential JASSM transfer could be realized.

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