US Congress Records Show Turkey to Transfer ATACMS Missiles to Ukraine

Ukraine is poised to acquire a significant defense package from Turkey, which notably includes 70 U.S.-made ATACMS long-range missiles. According to U.S. Congress records, the transfer of these weapons to Ukraine is anticipated to commence by the end of August.

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Ukraine's purchase of a comprehensive defense package from Turkey, including 70 U.S.-made long-range ATACMS missiles, has been reflected in U.S. Congressional records.

The package, detailed in a U.S. State Department notification dated August 6, is extensive. It comprises 70 M39 ATACMS missiles, 12 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), over 2,000 cluster munitions, and 47,000 howitzer shells. The ATACMS missiles, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, are tactical ballistic missiles with a range of approximately 165 kilometers for the M39 variant slated for Ukraine.

The arms transfer involves several companies, including Turkey's MKE, ASFAT, and ARCA Savunma, alongside Bulgaria's VTIC International and U.S. firms Pansophico and Patriot Defense Group. The total initial value of the package is estimated at around $280 million.

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The transfer of weapons to Ukraine is expected to begin at the end of August, according to U.S. Congressional records.

This transaction aligns with U.S. Congressional review requirements for the re-export of American-made arms when a certain financial threshold is exceeded. The U.S. State Department indicated that Turkey aims to reduce its inventory of older defense systems and redirect financial resources toward modernization. Ukraine, meanwhile, seeks to enhance its offensive and defensive firepower in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

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The package includes 70 M39 ATACMS missiles, 12 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), more than 2,000 cluster munitions, and 47,000 howitzer shells.

Ukraine previously received its first M39 ATACMS missiles in the fall of 2023 and more advanced versions capable of reaching approximately 300 kilometers in the spring of 2024. Initially, their use was restricted to targets within Ukrainian territory, but permission to strike targets in Russia was granted in November 2024. Ukraine's ATACMS stocks have reportedly diminished significantly during the war, leading to limited recent use.

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The ATACMS, produced by the American defense company Lockheed Martin, is known as a tactical ballistic missile system used from land to land.