Ukraine may receive long-range GLSDB missiles in nine months, says Bloomberg
GLSDB projectile (Photo:boeing.co.kr)
The first delivery of GLSDB smart bombs, included in a recent military aid package from the U.S., is expected in nine months at the earliest, the Bloomberg news agency wrote Feb. 3, citing U.S. military officials familiar with the matter.
These nine months start from from the moment the manufacturing contract was signed, Bloomberg noted.
The bombs have never been manufactured for export, manufacturer Boeing said.
"No more than $200 million would be allocated to the Boeing weapon initially," one of the officials said to Bloomberg.
The GLSDB bombs are a ground-launched small diameter bomb with the addition of a rocket motor – the same used in M26 rockets for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems. The range of the bomb is extended to approximately 150 km via additional "wings" that open during flight. An on-board GPS System-aided Inertial Navigation System helps to improve the precision of the munition.
In addition to these "smart bombs", an upcoming U.S. military aid package to Ukraine will also include Claymore anti-personnel mines, 155-mm Excalibur GPS-guided shells, Patriot missile support equipment, Mk 153 portable missile launchers, and winter clothes, Bloomberg wrote.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier called the provision of long-range missiles one of Ukraine’s three military priorities (alongside tanks and fighter jets) that have no consensus among Ukraine's partner nations.
Partner nations only agreed to send modern tanks to the country – in particular the German Leopard 2, UK Challenger 2 and U.S. M1 Abrams – in January.
On Jan. 20, the United States announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $2.5 billion that will include Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, Avenger Air Defense Systems, 155-mm high precision shells and much more.
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