Cluster munition-armed versions of ATACMS missiles will allow Ukrainian forces to carry out more effective strikes on airfields than individual missile strikes on individual aircraft.
These strikes could force Russian forces to move aircraft further from the front line, although this is likely more so for helicopters than for most Russian fixed-wing aircraft, which have a much longer range.
Russian forces used helicopters effectively in repelling Ukrainian mechanized attacks during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporozhye region in the summer of 2023, but the Russians now use far fewer helicopters to support ongoing offensive operations in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces currently rely heavily on aircraft to launch glide bomb attacks along the entire front line, and moving these aircraft to airfields further from the front would likely have only a minor impact on the rate of strikes, ISW said.
Ukraine’s use of ATACMS could also pose a significant threat to Russian ammunition depots in rear areas.
The Institute suggests that after using ATACMS in October 2023, when the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the occupiers’ warehouses, the Russians could prepare for repeat attacks by strengthening or dispersing warehouses throughout the occupied Ukrainian territories.
“Ukrainian strikes against Russian logistics bases or Russian aircraft deep in the rear are likely to be operationally significant, but only if Ukrainian forces successfully coordinate them with ground operations to take advantage of degraded Russian capabilities resulting from the strikes.” “,” the report says.
Is ATACMS included in the new US package?
Tags: ATACMS give Ukraine operational effect Russia prepared ISW
