ATACMS Missiles Bring Ukraine New Tactics & Attack Options

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Multiple major news reports quoting Ukrainian officials and US officials now say that Ukraine has at last fired some of its long sought after Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), ground missiles capable of traveling several hundred miles to destroy high-value targets without needing to place aircraft at risk. 

ATACMS are ground based rockets able to fire at longer ranges than the existing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems known to have had a tremendous impact upon Ukraine’s war effort. Ukrainian President Zelensky and many of his Ukrainian supporters and high ranking officials, have long been requesting ATACMs for months for several key tactical and strategic reasons.

Now, Ukrainians have fired them on critical Russian targets, according to a write up on CBSnews.com citing US officials stating Ukraine has fired ATACMS against several Russian airbases in Russian-Occupied areas of Ukraine.

When asked about ATACMS recently, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin did not confirm or deny that they had been sent by the US to Ukraine following the most recent Ukraine Contact Group, yet he was clear to emphasize the US commitment to getting Ukraine what it “needs.”

“I don’t have any announcements on ATACMS ….. but what I will tell you is what we focused on is what we believe Ukraine needs, and we believe that because these are the things that President Zelenskyy addressed today. He spoke of a need for air defense, additional air defense, ground-based air defense capabilities, and also artillery platforms and artillery munitions,” Austin said, according to a Pentagon transcript.

What Can ATACMS do?