Ukraine bomber pilots with new weapon

Ukrainian bomber pilots are for the first time using longer-range weapons to hit Russian-occupied positions which were previously too far behind their front lines. Eleven explosions in the city of Mariupol on Ukraine’s southeast coast suggest the Ukrainian air force may now be armed with the extended range version of the American joint direct attack munition (JDAM-ER). With a potential launch range of about 50 miles, this precision-guided weapon would be a significant addition to Ukraine’s ability to hit Russian ammunition and fuel dumps which were considered until now to be relatively safe from attacks either by air or from ground-launched rockets. The JDAM-ER which has a special wing attached has three times the range of the basic JDAM, allowing Ukrainian bomber pilots to fire on targets from a much greater stand-off position, reducing the risk of being shot down by Russian air defences. Kyiv has been appealing for longer-range weapons for months. But the US and allies have been reluctant to supply weapons that could be used to attack targets inside Russia or Russian-annexed Crimea. The Pentagon has yet to confirm the delivery of the 50-mile range JDAMS, although it was reported by Bloomberg that the more advanced version of this missile was included in the $1.85 billion arms package announced by the US on December 21. One of the strikes on Mariupol which was seized by Russian forces on May 20 last year after a devastating three-month siege destroyed an ammunition depot near the airport. Previously the Ukrainian military have used domestically-produced drones and special forces sabotage units to strike at Russian positions behind their frontlines as well as against bases over the border into Russia itself. A statement from the Ukrainian general staff that the 11 strikes had been carried out by aircraft appeared to confirm that a longer-range weapon had been used. To avoid Russian air defences, Ukrainian ground-attack aircraft have had to fly in low to hit targets. Armed with the basic JDAMS with a range of only 15 miles, it meant the limited reach was even further reduced because of the altitude of the jet. With JDAMS-ER, pilots can initially fly in low and then climb to a higher altitude and toss the missile, giving it even further range. The guidance system guarantees a hit within a few feet of the target.