Ukraine to receive JSOW long-range glide bombs from the US

Ukraine will soon receive long-range Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) glide bombs from the United States. These munitions can hit a target at a distance of up to 150 km and weigh up to 500 kg.

This was reported by the White House press service. US President Joe Biden announced the decision, emphasizing that it is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's capabilities to conduct long-range attacks.

"To enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition," Joe Biden said.

In addition, Biden instructed the U.S. Department of Defense to repair and transfer to Ukraine another Patriot air defense battery along with additional missiles for this system. The decision is part of a broader strategy that will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year to better protect cities and civilians.

"This builds on my decision earlier this year to divert U.S. air defense exports to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year and will help Ukraine defend its cities and its people," Biden emphasized.

The US President also emphasized the expansion of the training program for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, in particular by training 18 more pilots in 2025.

What we know about JSOW

The AGM-154 JSOW is a gride bomb developed for use by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. It is designed to provide high-precision strikes against protected targets beyond the reach of standard air defense, increasing the chances of aircraft survival and reducing battlefield losses.

The basic version, the AGM-154A, was first deployed in Iraq during the 2003-2011 war and in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In total, more than 400 JSOW bombs have been used, of which about 300 were in Iraq.

The JSOW has a guidance system based on GPS, inertial navigation (INS) and an infrared sensor (only for the C model). The bomb is 4.06 meters long, 33 cm in diameter, weighs 483 kg and has a wingspan of 2.7 meters. The JSOW is compatible with a variety of aircraft, such as the F/A-18, F-16, B-1B, B-2A, B-52H, F-15E, F-35A/C and JAS 39 Gripen. The range of its use varies from 22 km when launched from a low altitude to 130 km from a high altitude, and with an engine (JSOW-ER) - up to 560 km.

The JSOW is an important tool for modern military operations, ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of air strikes.

According to the Defence Express, the transfer of the new bombs is a "strange decision" because "the Ukrainian Air Force is unable to use high-altitude flight due to the threat of Russian long-range SAMs and the superiority of fighter jets." As a result, Ukrainian pilots are forced to launch bombs during low-altitude flights.

This means that the previously delivered JDAM-ER bombs could only be launched at a distance of 40 km. Defense Express predicts that the performance of the AGM-154 JSOW will be similar, although these bombs cost ten times more than JDAM-ER.

It is worth noting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States has decided to provide Ukraine with significant defense assistance totaling $7.9 billion. Additional sanctions will also be imposed against the aggressor country Russia.

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