Denmark Promises To Deliver Harpoon Missiles To Ukraine, US Secretary Of Defense: Everyone Understands The Stakes Of This War

Harpoon missile firing. (Wikimedia Commons/LA (Phot) Sean Clee)

JAKARTA - The United States announced a Danish pledge to send Harpoon anti-ship missiles and launchers to Ukraine Monday, marking the first time Kyiv will receive US-made weapons to significantly increase its strike range.

Ukraine is known to have been trying to acquire more sophisticated weapons such as air defense systems, anti-ship missiles and long-range rockets. So far, however, most assistance has been in the form of short-range systems, such as anti-tank guns and Javelin artillery.

The Harpoon, made by Boeing Co., could be used to push the Russian Navy away from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, allowing exports of grain and other agricultural products to resume.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was "very grateful to Denmark for announcing it will provide Harpoon and missile launchers to help Ukraine defend its coast."

Last Monday, Austin announced a new security aid package from 20 countries for Ukraine after hosting a virtual meeting with allies. That includes Denmark's pledge to provide Ukraine with Harpoon anti-ship missiles and launchers, Austin said.

"Everyone here understands the stakes in this war," he said.

Reported last week, the White House was trying to put advanced anti-ship missiles in the hands of Ukrainian fighters to defeat Russia's naval blockade, but not more powerful weapons that could sink Russian warships that could escalate the conflict.

"This is an important and measured step towards increasing Ukraine's operational capabilities and intensity against Russia," said Tom Karako, senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and director of the Missile Defense Project.

He added that the weapons "would run the risk of high-value Russian ships striking Ukraine from the Black Sea or elsewhere." Congressional sources and a U.S. official said Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missiles were in short supply, so the Harpoon offered Ukraine more capability to push the Russian ships back and initiate de-mine operations.

With the Harpoon missile, Ukraine is likely to rely on other countries for target data to use the system effectively against ships at longer ranges, Karako said.

A number of countries are willing to send Harpoons to Ukraine, US officials and congressional sources say. But a US official said no country wants to be the first or the only country to send a Harpoon, for fear of retaliation from Russia if a ship is sunk with the Harpoon out of their stockpile.

The Danish Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The obstacles to sending more powerful long-range weapons to Ukraine include lengthy training requirements, difficulty maintaining equipment, or fears of US weapons falling to Russian forces.