Ukraine will receive 70 M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles, 12 M270 multiple launch rocket systems and tens of thousands of cluster munitions from Turkey. The transfer is planned to begin after the 15-day period for reviewing the relevant notifications in the U.S. Congress expires.
This was reported by “Militarnyi” with reference to U.S. Department of State notifications published in the official record of the U.S. Congress for August 6.
The State Department sent the relevant documents to U.S. lawmakers on August 3. Under the law, Congress must be notified of such transfers if the value of major defense equipment is at least $14 million or the total value of other defense articles and services is at least $50 million.
A separate congressional vote to authorize the transfer is not required. If both chambers do not adopt a joint resolution prohibiting it within 15 calendar days, the U.S. government’s consent to the re-export will automatically take effect.
The transfer to Ukraine includes:
- 12 M270 MLRS launchers;
- 70 M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles;
- 2,524 unguided 227 mm M26 rockets with DPICM cluster warheads;
- 47,000 M509A1 203 mm cluster artillery shells for 2S7 Pion and M110 self-propelled guns.
The documents state that the transfer will be carried out through Turkish, Bulgarian and U.S. defense and logistics companies specializing in exports.
The U.S. Department of State informed Congress that it is prepared to authorize the transfer because it is consistent with U.S. security assistance objectives.
The documents also state that Turkey seeks to reduce its stocks of obsolete weapons in order to direct financial resources toward modernizing and maintaining existing systems. Ukraine plans to use the acquired weapons to strengthen its offensive and defensive fire-support capabilities while countering the Russian invasion.
