Why Biden hesitates about sending the M270 rocket launchers requested by Kiev
Biden resists Ukrainian calls for long-range M270 rocket launchers that could aid in resistance against the Russian offensive. Facts and insights
The US is stalling on the transfer of M270 rocket launchers to Ukraine.
As Politico revealed, US President Joe Biden is resisting Kiev's pressing demands for long-range rocket systems to repel the Russian offensive.
According to the newspaper, the reason is that the White House fears a further "escalation".
This is a very different weapon from the M777 howitzers that the Biden administration has sent to Ukraine in recent weeks, Politico points out. The artillery pieces have a range of about 29 km but can only fire one projectile at a time and must be towed behind a truck to get from one place to another. While rocket launchers have a wide range (30-70 kilometers, but even more depending on the shells). Furthermore, the latter are able to move away by evading the reaction of the enemy.
All the details.
KIEV'S REQUEST
According to Politico , Ukrainian government officials have been begging the United States for months to send the Multiple Launch Rocket System, or MLRS, the M270A1 multiple launch rocket system manufactured by American Lockheed Martin .
WHAT IS M270
The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a multiple launch rocket artillery system. The system provides extreme accuracy in hitting targets.
First produced for the United States Army in 1983, the M270 Mlrs was specifically designed to quickly fire 12 rockets and quickly go off to reload. It is still used by 14 of countries including Italy. Depending on the ammunition used, its range generally extends from 30km to 70km, with the most advanced rockets able to travel over 160km.
As stated on the Italian Army website, "The latest technology rockets, equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS), hence the new name Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), guarantee precision that allows use in operations aimed at hitting even point-like targets such as, for example, bunkers or enemy positions ".
In addition, the “Mlrs launcher has a highly automated self-loading and self-aiming system and is equipped with a fire control computer that integrates vehicle and launch pad operations”.
THE UKRAINIAN STRATEGY
According to the Ukrainian military, the Mlrs would allow troops to fire from relatively safe ranges and quickly pack and move before Russian drones and artillery can pinpoint their location.
THE FEARS OF WASHINGTON
But the White House would like it. "There was a favorable moment (for this type of supplies, ed) in Ramstein but it seems to have cooled down", a parliamentary assistant familiar with the discussion had by Western allies and partners in the US base in Germany confided to Politico .
According to Politico sources, Ukrainians are concerned that the White House is haggling over concerns that the weapon could be used to launch attacks inside Russia, thus expanding and prolonging the conflict.
In recent weeks, the White House decided it was "more effective and efficient to send 90 M777s [howitzers] because you can send more" with more ammunition than a much smaller number of MLRSs. This is what a Biden administration official explained to Politico .
"We have to make decisions about which weapon systems provide the best value for money," with the money Congress allocates to Ukraine's effort, the official said.
The Biden administration has already provided the Ukrainian military with weapons and supplies worth $ 4.5 billion, including $ 3.8 billion since the February 24 Russian invasion.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/perche-biden-temporeggia-sullinvio-dei-lanciarazzi-m270-chiesti-da-kiev/ on Mon, 23 May 2022 13:15:02 +0000.