Overview
- The $850 million package is reported to be largely financed by European partners, with initial deliveries expected to begin in about six weeks.
- Unnamed U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal say the munitions have an estimated 150–280 mile range, a roughly 500-pound warhead, and sub-10-meter accuracy, with performance details not yet officially confirmed.
- The system traces to a 2024 U.S. Air Force effort seeking an affordable, mass-producible air-launched weapon designed to function in GPS-degraded environments.
- Officials told the Journal that Ukraine must obtain Pentagon sign-off before employing the weapons, reflecting the same oversight that has blocked some ATACMS strikes inside Russia.
- Analysts say the added standoff capacity could disrupt Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, though they note the broader strategic effect of deep strikes remains contested.