JAKARTA - The United States is preparing to resume sending long-range bombs known as the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine.
The ammunition will arrive in Kyiv amid reports that the supply of Ukraine's Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a similar firing range, has run out.
The glide bomb was purchased under the administration of former President Joe Biden in the US using Ukraine's Security Assistance Prekarsa. The US has purchased nearly $33.2 billion worth of new military weapons and equipment for Kyiv directly from US defense contractors and its allies.
President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday agreed to continue military aid and the division of intelligence with Ukraine after Kyiv said it was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
In recent weeks, 19 GLSDBs have been tested for fire to assess the effectiveness of the increase.
"Some modifications involve strengthening connections inside the weapon to increase its resilience," said a source.
The re-introduction of the GLSDB to the battlefield could occur in the coming days, as supplies already exist in Europe. The last time Ukraine used the weapon was a few months ago, said one of the sources.
Russia's disruption has left many of Ukraine's relatively new long-range GLSDB unable to hit the intended target.
Over the past year, Ukraine has been looking for weapons with a longer range than the US-provided GMLRS rocket 43 miles (69 km) so Kyiv can attack and disrupt Russian supply lines and gathering points.
Boeing also offered the Pentagon a new weapon with a range of 100 miles (161 km), GLSDB.
The glide bomb has a small wing that expands its reach, and consists of the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and the M26 rocket bike, both common in US inventory and relatively cheap.
The GLSDB navigation system allows it to be directed past obstacles such as mountains and known anti-air defenses.
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