US could announce supplying Ukraine with GLSBD rockets this week, WSJ reports
GLSDB projectile (Photo:boeing.co.kr)
The United States could announce a new security assistance package for Ukraine on Feb. 3, which is expected to include GLSDB munitions, The Wall Street Journal reported on Feb. 1, citing its sources.
Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is a type of high-precision “smart bomb,” launched from HIMARS and M270 rocket artillery systems, which are both already in use by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. These bombs deploy winglets after launch, allowing them to glide and strike targets 150 kilometers away, guided via GPS. GLSDB is a joint Boeing-Saab development.
According to the report, the package will be routed through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which is used to finance procurement and development of weapon systems for Kyiv. This process usually takes longer to deliver equipment to Ukraine – compared to a direct drawdown from U.S. military stockpiles.
Washington’s plans to supply Kyiv with GLSDB munitions were previously reported by Ruters.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba previously said that long-range weapons remain one of the three key weapon systems Ukraine’s Western allies are reluctant to provide – along with tanks and fighter jets. By late January, the United States, Germany, and the UK announced they will makeM1 Abrams, Leopard-2, and Challenger-2 main battle tanks available to Ukraine.
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