Anti-ship missile to Ukraine ?: “Harpoon” missile can solve port siege

Anti-ship missiles for Ukraine?
The “Harpoon” missile could solve the port siege

05/19/2022 9:36 pm

Naval siege in the Black Sea greatly reduces Ukraine’s trade. U.S. experts firmly believe that the Russian navy could be defeated by special anti-ship missiles. However, so far, there are logistics barriers.

According to locals, the United States wants to send modern anti-ship missiles to Ukraine to break the Russian blockade of its Black Sea ports. Two types of rockets are currently under discussion, Reuters learned from three U.S. government officials and two unnamed congressional staffers. These are manufactured by Boeing’s ‘Harpoon’ with a range of 300 km and the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies with a range of 250 km.

According to Brian Clark, a naval expert at the Hudson Institute, 12 to 24 such missiles would be enough to threaten Russian warships and end the government siege in Moscow. For example, it affects the supply of Ukrainian grain to the world market. According to the British MoD, Russia has about 20 warships – including submarines – stationed in the war zone.

The Russian navy has already suffered significant losses in the Ukrainian war, especially the sinking of the Black Sea Navy’s flagship “Moskva”. According to Clark, large Russian ships could be in danger if Ukraine acquires advanced weapons, and President Vladimir Putin clung to the siege: “They have nowhere to hide in the Black Sea.”

There is a “harpoon” in Bandeswehr

It is learned from US sources that during the NATO summit in Brussels in March, the issue of supplying anti-ship missiles to Ukraine was discussed. They have started work on it. ‘ In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky asked NATO member Portugal to deliver the horns. There is also the Bundeswehr Armed Forces.

According to locals, there are now several states that are in principle ready to send such missiles to Ukraine. However, if the warship is sunk by a missile owned by that country, no one wants to do so in the first place for fear of a Russian reaction. One of the government officials told Reuters there is now a “well-off” country that may be ready to deliver first. Then other states can follow.

According to previous US reports, there are many obstacles and concerns over the transfer of more powerful and long-range weapons to Ukraine. These include long training sessions, difficulties in maintaining systems, and concerns that the Russian armed forces may catch them. There is also an increased risk of conflict. There are also technical issues, as the “Harpoon” is not really intended to be launched from the ground.