Turkey to transfer US-made ATACMS missiles and MLRS launchers to Ukraine
The U.S. Department of State has notified Congress of a proposed transfer of U.S.-made weaponry from Turkey to Ukraine. The deal involves the permanent transfer of several critical systems to bolster Ukraine's offensive and defensive capabilities.
Key components of the transfer include 12 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, 70 M39 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles—which have a range of approximately 165 kilometers—2,524 M26 unguided Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rockets, and 47,000 M509A1 203mm DPICM howitzer rounds.
The transfer is expected to proceed following a 15-day congressional review period. Under U.S. law, the agreement will automatically take effect unless both chambers of Congress pass a joint resolution to block it. The transaction will be facilitated by various Turkish, Bulgarian, and U.S. private defense and logistics companies.
Turkey intends to use the proceeds from the sale of these older systems to modernize its own military inventory. Meanwhile, Russia has responded to the news by stating that any shipments containing weapons for Ukraine would constitute legitimate targets.
Entities: Russia · Turkey · U.S. Congress · U.S. Department of State · Ukraine · United States · United States Department of State
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The M39 ATACMS missiles have a range of approximately 165 kilometers.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Turkey is proposing the transfer to reduce its inventory of older weapons to fund modernization.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Russia has warned that any materials containing weapons provided to Ukraine will be considered legitimate targets. (Russian Foreign Ministry)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The transfer can proceed automatically unless both houses of the U.S. Congress pass a joint resolution to block it within 15 days.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The transfer includes 12 M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers.
- [● 6 SOURCES] The transfer includes 70 M39 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. Department of State notified Congress of a proposed permanent transfer of U.S.-made weapons from Turkey to Ukraine. (U.S. Department of State)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The deal includes 2,524 M26 unguided DPICM rockets and 47,000 M509A1 203mm DPICM howitzer rounds.