Denmark plans to transfer US anti-ship missiles to Ukraine

“I am especially grateful Denmarkthe country announced today that it will transfer launchers and Harpoon missiles to help Ukraine protect its coast,” Defense Minister America Lloyd Austin said at a press conference after talks with representatives of nearly 40 countries and member organizations of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on May 23.

Minister Austin said Denmark would deliver a Harpoon system to Ukraine, but did not specify a variant. Denmark has not yet announced plans to deliver Harpoon anti-ship missiles to Ukraine.

The information comes in the context of Russia’s special military operation to “demilitarize and de-fascist Ukraine” entering its third month, the two sides turning into a tug-of-war in the Donbass region.

Harpoon is a cruise missile that can glide across the sea to attack ships operating far from shore with a distance of up to 300 km depending on the variant. Harpoon is usually launched from a ship or a plane, but Denmark is operating a launch pad from the mainland to protect the coast.

The Danish Army is fielding the RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II variant, capable of striking ships at sea as well as targets in ports and on land with an upgraded Advanced Weapons Control System. Boeing’s Harpoon.

“The system expands its ability to strike coastal, harbor and inland targets, as well as coastal defense positions, anti-aircraft missile sites, aircraft, ports and industrial facilities, as well as ships at anchor,” Boeing said in a statement.

The Harpoon complexes are assessed to add an extra layer of protection to the Black Sea port city of Odessa. Ukrainethe site is thought to be likely to be attacked by Russia from the sea.

In addition, Ukraine can use Harpoon missiles to attack the port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, where several warships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet are anchored.

Minister Austin also said many countries are providing artillery, tanks and armor to Ukraine, of which the Czech Republic is providing attack helicopters, tanks and rocket artillery systems. Several other countries are training Ukrainian soldiers.

Mr. Austin has not disclosed details of the US $ 40 billion support package for Ukraine just announced. This support package is said to have high-precision long-range missiles with the ability to strike targets inside Russian territory.

Ukraine asked the US to deliver long-range rocket artillery systems including M270 MLRS and M142 Himars, with the ability to launch multiple rockets or missiles at the same time with a range of up to 300 km.

However, US officials said the country unwilling supplied due to concerns that they could be used to attack targets within Russian territory, increasing the scale of the current conflict.

Minister Austin said Ukraine’s needs have not changed much from the previous meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group four weeks ago. “The fighting during this period is shaped by artillery, we’ve seen shelling of each other over the past few weeks,” Austin said.

Nguyen Tien (According to USNI, AFP)