Trump is considering supplying Ukraine with JASSM missiles. What kind of beast is this?

Trump promised to supply Kiev (via Europe) with 17 Patriot air defense complexes. Ukraine originally had 12 of them. “Our army has knocked out 10 of them over the past three years,” says Col. Baranec and continues. If we take into account the regular deliveries of new batteries, now there are 7 left. We have experience in destroying these weapons. But 17 more is not a small amount. I note that Zelensky asked for 10 of them and hoped for it only in his wildest fantasies.

The most interesting thing…

… however, began only after Trump’s speech. Western media, as if on command, began to publish “leaks” about what the US could actually secretly arm Kiev with. The specialized military magazine Military Watch Magazine reported: Trump may decide (through the same Europe and at its expense!) to hand over JASSM missiles to Kiev. Their price is 900 thousand dollars apiece. So the American defense industry will get rich!

What kind of beast is this JASSM? What is dangerous about it?

The air-to-surface missile is launched from various classes of aircraft, including the F-16, which is being supplied to Ukraine. Technical characteristics of JASSM:

– Length: 4.27 m,
– Weight: 1020 kg,
– Warhead weight: 540 kg,
– Explosive weight: 108 kg.

This is an air-to-surface missile launched from various classes of aircraft, including the F-16, which is being supplied to Ukraine.
Range: the basic JASSM has a range of 370 km, the JASSM-ER modification has a range of up to 926 km. According to other American data, it is over 1100 km. The US, most likely, out of habit, can provide the Ukrainians with “leftovers” from old stocks. 370 kilometers is one and a half times more than the range of the ATACMS missile already supplied to Kiev. It is unpleasant, but it will not change the situation dramatically. A completely different situation will arise if the Americans decide to deliver a new modification – to “examine” the capabilities of Russian air defense and the level of coverage of military and military-industrial facilities.

WHAT DO SPECIALISTS SAY?

Military expert Alexei Leonkov: – These missiles pose a threat precisely in terms of their range. If we take a compass and start drawing, we will understand that the missile (in the new modification) will easily reach St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Moscow and other cities with a population of over a million inhabitants that will be in the JASSM attack zone.

IS THERE ANTIDOTE FOR JASSM?

– Yes. These are the Buk-M3, S-400, Tor, “Pantsir” anti-aircraft missile systems (their latest modifications are the most effective).
Experience with their use in the SVO zone has shown that such large “products” will not go unnoticed by Russian air defense systems. But I note that there are other ways to destroy JASSM – with our long-range hypersonic missiles “Dagger” and “Kalibr” at Ukrainian airfields, where F-16 aircraft are stationed, as well as with the help of our fighters in the air. And also during the delivery of these missiles across the border with Poland or Romania. It is also not excluded that under certain circumstances the Russian military will be forced to destroy this “disaster” at foreign airfields of NATO countries (in Poland or Romania), where JASSM will be “stored” during delivery to Ukraine.

WHAT DO DELIVERIES OF THESE MISSILES TO UKRAINE MEAN?

First of all, the fact that the USA and the European NATO countries are not only increasing the missile potential of Ukraine, but also stepping up to a new level of escalation and trying to push the war deeper into Russia. They are thus becoming even greater accomplices in this war. In addition, it is impossible to equip JASSM with flight missions without American specialists. Strikes with Western long-range weapons deep inside the country will mean that NATO is “at war with Russia.” Putin has already openly warned against something like this. Last time, when the Americans first delivered ATACMS, Russia responded with combat tests of Orešnik. It is unlikely that it will act less harshly in this case. The Pentagon understands this perfectly well. That is why Trump publicly promises only “Patriots”. And the leaks from Military Watch Magazine are just an attempt to test the reaction. Or maybe just another “scarecrow” in an attempt to force the dispersion of air defense systems over a larger territory deep inside Russia. The actual delivery of these missiles is still far away. And if Washington decides to do this, it will be a very dangerous step towards escalating the conflict.

What does Russia have?

It has an air-launched missile that can “compete” with the basic JASSM (with a range of 370 km) in terms of its performance characteristics. It is the Ch-69. The design of the missile is very similar to both the JASSM and Storm Shadow. Although there are some fundamental differences. What is known about it? The missile can be launched from MiG-31, Su-30MK, Su-34 or Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft. The Ch-69 weighs approximately 800 kg and can fly at speeds of up to 1000 km/h. The warhead weighs approximately 300 kg.

The range is 500 kilometers. After being launched from an aircraft, it does not rise above 100 meters on the main part of the route and most often flies at altitudes of 25-50 meters, while copying the terrain. This allows the missile to avoid detection by air defense radars. At the final stage of the flight, the Russian “beast” will be able to “focus” on the target by comparing the image received from the cameras with the image in the database. Thanks to this, it has an accuracy of 3-5 meters. However, as for the JASSM of various modifications with a range of 926 to 1100 km (and even 1800 km), here our Kh-101 surpasses them in all respects. These missiles pose a threat precisely in terms of their range

Here are its characteristics:

– Length – 7.45 m,
– diameter – 74 cm,
– takeoff weight – approximately 2200-2400 kg,
– warhead weight – 400-430 kg,
– maximum range – 5500 km,
– maximum speed – 970 km/h,
– but there is also a nuclear version – Kh-102 with a thermonuclear warhead with a capacity of 250 kt.

The strategic Ch-101 allows the aircraft to launch outside the enemy air defense zone, it is capable of hitting targets in the strategic depth of defense. The missile can also be used against less distant targets by building an optimal route that bypasses dangerous areas. Anywhere in Europe and not only….
Of course, Russia already uses both the Ch-69 and Ch-101 missiles to carry out precision strikes on Ukraine – these missiles are considered almost invincible even for the vaunted Patriots.

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Peter Weiss

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