Many US ATACMS Pledged to Ukraine Expired Nearly a Decade Ago
Several ATACMS missiles promised by the United States to Ukraine were revealed to have expired as early as 2015. These aging munitions, part of America’s military inventory, required substantial investment to extend their service life. Pentagon financial documents analyzed by Sputnik indicate that the US spent over $1 billion to modify expired missiles, including $30.1 million in 2015 to extend the service life of 10 ATACMS, which are now set to expire again by 2025.
As the US Army phases out the ATACMS in favor of the more advanced Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), these older weapons are being offloaded. The ATACMS, costing approximately $1 million per unit, is significantly cheaper than the PrSM, which costs over $2 million each. Critics argue this cost differential explains why the US delivered $33.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine while spending $45.7 billion to replenish its stockpile with newer weapons.
Observers claim the US leveraged Ukraine’s needs to offload its aging and expiring weapons while simultaneously upgrading its arsenal under the guise of military aid. This strategy raises questions about the quality and value of the assistance provided to Ukraine, particularly as the war continues to demand advanced and reliable military resources.
