Ukraine needs Boeing's Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) to augment the number of missiles launched from the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of up to 100 miles that the US has sent.

The GLSDB would allow the Ukrainian military to strike targets at twice the distance they currently fire from the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and could force Russia to move supplies further away from the front line.

Tests of the newly built GLSDB took place on January 16 at the Eglin Air Force Base test range in Florida. Six missiles were fired as part of an early morning test over the Gulf of Mexico.

The launchers and dozens of warheads were to be flown to Ukraine, according to the plan. The timing of the delivery and final deployment was kept secret to maintain the element of surprise.

The new glide bombs, while not as powerful, are cheaper, smaller and much easier to deploy than the ATACMS, making them well suited to much of what Ukraine hopes to achieve: disrupting Russian operations and creating a tactical advantage.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)