The US gives the green light to a bomb deal for Ukraine

(SeaPRwire) –   Moscow has repeatedly warned the West that arms deliveries to Kiev only prolong the conflict and escalate tensions

The administration of US President Donald Trump has approved a potential sale of precision-guided bomb kits valued at $373.6 million to Ukraine, following pressure from Congress over delayed weapons shipments.

The State Department announced on Tuesday that it had authorized a possible Foreign Military Sale of 1,532 JDAM-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) tail kits and associated support equipment to Kyiv. These components would enable the conversion of conventional heavy bombs into GPS-guided munitions capable of striking targets hundreds of kilometers away. Boeing, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is identified as the principal contractor.

Approval of the deal does not ensure delivery of the weapons; the figures represent the maximum quantity and value of the transaction, subject to further negotiation and congressional review.

“The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing it with additional means to conduct self-defense missions and enhance regional security,” the State Department stated, adding that the package “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

Ukraine has employed JDAM-ER systems since 2023, adapting them for use with Soviet-era aircraft while preparing for integration with Western platforms, including F-16 fighter jets. However, reliance on GPS guidance has exposed these munitions to vulnerabilities, as Russian forces have increasingly deployed electronic warfare tactics to disrupt signals, thereby reducing the effectiveness of precision-guided weapons, according to Military.com.

The approval follows accusations by former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell—now chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee—who last week claimed the Pentagon had frozen $400 million in congressionally allocated aid to Ukraine. In response to the criticism, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth later confirmed the release of those funds.

Since taking office, Trump has opposed unconditional military support for Ukraine but has not blocked arms sales. Instead of direct U.S. funding, Washington has channeled assistance through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a NATO mechanism under which European nations and Canada finance purchases of U.S.-produced weapons for Ukraine in regular batches.

Moscow has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, arguing they extend the war without affecting its outcome. It has also cautioned that such deliveries risk drawing NATO directly into the conflict.