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Comment: Biden Administration Considers Providing Ukraine with Cluster-Armed Missiles

The Biden administration is currently in discussions over whether or not to provide Ukraine with a version of the ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) long-range missiles armed with cluster bomblets. These discussions have moved from the deputies committee to the principals committee, with a final decision to be made by President Biden. The cluster-armed ATACMS would allow Ukraine to strike targets far behind Russian front lines and defenses, such as command posts, ammunition stores, and logistics routes.

However, the decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine is controversial due to the danger posed by unexploded bomblets. These bomblets can pose a risk to civilians even decades after a conflict has ended. Despite initial concerns, the Biden administration has taken the issue “off the table” for now, but it remains a possibility for the future.

The cluster-armed version of ATACMS is more readily available than those with a single warhead and is no longer considered a front-line U.S. weapon. Ukraine has requested hundreds of these missiles, but the Pentagon is concerned that drawing down enough ATACMS from limited military stockpiles would impact the readiness of U.S. forces for other potential conflicts.

The Biden administration has recently announced an additional $325 million in weapons for Ukraine, including cluster munitions, artillery ammunition, and anti-armor capabilities. These weapons are intended to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses against possible assaults from Russia. However, the use of cluster munitions has drawn criticism from human rights groups due to the risk they pose to civilians.

In the past, the United States has provided Ukraine with 155 millimeter cluster artillery ammunition, which has been successful in their counteroffensive against Russian forces. The effectiveness of these munitions has been highlighted by U.S. officials, despite concerns over their use.

The decision to convert some of the long-range cluster ATACMS to unitary warheads was made to meet a dud rate requirement set in 2008. However, the updated dud rate testing for aging cluster weapons in U.S. stockpiles is unclear. Furthermore, other countries such as Britain and France have provided Ukraine with cruise missiles, lessening the need for ATACMS.

Overall, the decision to provide Ukraine with cluster-armed missiles is a complex and controversial issue. While these missiles would provide Ukraine with a significant advantage in striking targets behind Russian front lines, there are concerns about the long-term risks posed by unexploded bomblets. The Biden administration is carefully weighing these factors before making a final decision.

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