Ukraine to acquire 70 ATACMS missiles and 12 MLRS systems via Türkiye
Ukraine has agreed a deal via Türkiye for 70 M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles, 12 M270 multiple-launch rocket systems and tens of thousands of cluster munitions. Deliveries are set to begin once a mandatory 15-day US congressional review period ends.
The US State Department has notified Congress of a transfer arrangement under which Ukraine will receive 70 M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles and 12 M270 multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), capable of firing both GMLRS and ATACMS munitions, along with a large quantity of cluster munitions, from Türkiye. The information was reported by the Militarnyi portal, citing the State Department statement published in the official Congressional Record on 6 August.
The relevant documents were submitted to lawmakers on 3 August, with deliveries expected to start immediately after the legally required 15-day review period expires. Such notification is mandatory whenever the initial value of major defence equipment reaches at least $14 million, or when the total value of other defence goods and services is at least $50 million. Congress does not need to hold a separate vote to approve the deal — US government consent for re-export takes effect automatically unless both chambers adopt a joint resolution blocking it within 15 calendar days. The House of Representatives is in recess until 31 August, and the Senate until 14 September.
Scope of the deal
In total, Congress was notified of a transfer including 12 M270 MLRS launchers, 70 M39 ATACMS ballistic missiles, 2,524 unguided 227 mm M26 rockets with DPICM cluster warheads, and 47,000 M509A1 203 mm cluster artillery shells intended for 2S7 Pion and M110 self-propelled guns. The transfers are to be handled by Turkish, Bulgarian and American defence and logistics firms acting as authorised exporters.
The State Department said it supports the transfer as consistent with US security assistance goals. According to the documents, Türkiye aims to reduce its stockpiles of outdated weapons to free up resources for modernisation, while Ukraine intends to use the weapons to reinforce its offensive and defensive fire support capabilities against the Russian invasion.
The M39 is the first production version of the ATACMS missile, with a range of up to about 165 km. It relies on an autonomous inertial guidance system without GPS correction, but compensates with a powerful 560 kg cluster warhead containing 950 fragmentation submunitions.
On 28 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in the United States with representatives of Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the ATACMS and HIMARS systems.
