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Turkey Prepares Major Arms Transfer to Ukraine, Including ATACMS Missiles
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Conflict & Security

Turkey Prepares Major Arms Transfer to Ukraine, Including ATACMS Missiles

From Adevฤƒrul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data New plan
  • Turkey is preparing to transfer a significant arms package to Ukraine, including ATACMS missiles, M270 launchers, and artillery ammunition.
  • The transfer, valued at approximately $280 million, is pending US Congress review and is expected to begin in late August.
  • The deal aims to help Turkey reduce older stocks and focus on modernization, while bolstering Ukraine's offensive and defensive capabilities against Russia.

Turkey is reportedly preparing a substantial arms transfer to Ukraine, a move that could significantly bolster Kyiv's military capabilities. Documents from the U.S. Congress indicate the package includes 70 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, 12 M270 multiple launch rocket systems, and tens of thousands of artillery rounds.

The proposed transfer, valued at an estimated $280 million, is currently undergoing review by the U.S. Congress. A notification from the U.S. State Department, dated August 6th, details the components: 70 M39 ATACMS missiles with a range of approximately 165 kilometers, 2,524 M26 unguided 227mm rockets equipped with submunition warheads, and around 47,000 203mm artillery projectiles.

Turkey aims through this operation to reduce its stocks of older military equipment and focus its financial resources on modernizing and maintaining existing systems.

โ€” U.S. Department of StateExplaining Turkey's strategic objectives behind the arms transfer.

The transaction involves several Turkish, Bulgarian, and American defense and logistics companies, including Turkey's MKE, ASFAT, and ARCA Savunma. The U.S. State Department stated that the transfer serves a dual purpose: for Turkey, it allows for the reduction of older military equipment stocks and a focus on modernizing existing systems; for Ukraine, the goal is to enhance its capacity for offensive and defensive operations in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

For Ukraine, the stated objective is to consolidate support capabilities for offensive and defensive operations in the war against Russia.

โ€” U.S. Department of StateOutlining the intended benefits for Ukraine.

This arms deal aligns with U.S. security assistance objectives for Ukraine. U.S. law requires the administration to consult with Congress on the re-export of American military equipment exceeding certain value thresholds. The transfer can proceed unless Congress passes a joint resolution to block it within the legally mandated period.

Ukraine previously received shorter-range M39 ATACMS missiles in the fall of 2023 and has since been supplied with improved versions offering a range of up to 300 kilometers. The initial deployment of these longer-range missiles was restricted to targets within Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Washington has stated that the transaction is compatible with American objectives regarding security assistance.

โ€” U.S. Department of StateConfirming alignment with U.S. foreign policy goals.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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