US long-range munitions are being dispatched to Ukraine as the supply of ATACMS decreases

The United States is set to restart the delivery of long-range munitions, specifically the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB), to Ukraine following enhancements designed to improve their resistance to Russian jamming, according to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke to Reuters. This shipment comes as reports indicate that Ukraine’s stock of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a similar range, has been exhausted.

These glide-bombs were acquired during the administration of former President Joe Biden through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The U.S. has invested nearly $33.2 billion in new arms and military supplies for Ukraine, sourced from both American and allied defense manufacturers.

On Tuesday, the administration of former President Donald Trump agreed to renew military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv expressed its willingness to back Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. In recent weeks, 19 GLSDBs underwent test-firings to evaluate the effectiveness of the recent upgrades, which included strengthening internal connections to improve durability, according to the sources.

The GLSDBs could be reintroduced to the battlefield in the near future, as a stockpile is already available in Europe. It has been several months since Ukrainian forces last deployed these weapons, as noted by one of the sources.

Previously, Russian jamming had hindered many of Ukraine’s relatively new GLSDBs from reaching their targets, as reported by three individuals familiar with the issues last May. Over the past year, Ukraine has sought munitions with greater ranges than the 43 miles (69 km) offered by U.S.-supplied GMLRS rockets to effectively target and disrupt Russian supply lines and troop concentrations. In response, Boeing proposed the GLSDB to the Pentagon, which boasts a range of 100 miles (161 km). This glide-bomb features small wings that extend its range and consists of the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and the M26 rocket motor, both of which are standard in U.S. military inventories and relatively cost-effective.

Boeing chose not to provide a comment. However, according to three individuals familiar with the situation, the GLSDB’s navigation system, which allows it to navigate around obstacles like mountains and established anti-air defenses, had been effectively targeted by Russian jamming as of May.

The bomb is a collaborative effort between SAAB AB and Boeing and was under development long before Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Jamming occurs when large amounts of energy are transmitted into a specific area, disrupting a device’s signal. Russia has employed this strategy against Ukrainian radios, drones, and even GPS-guided Excalibur 155-millimeter artillery shells.