US does not have enough ATACMS missiles to give Ukraine — WP

This is reported by the Washington Post.

It is noted that the ATACMS arsenal in the American army has not been replenished for some time. 

Currently, the US military expects to receive the next generation, longer-range Precision Strike Missile, called the Prism, for PrSM. 

"The limited number of ATACMS is the U.S. military’s most pressing concern. While the exact number in the U.S. arsenal is classified, Lockheed Martin has made only about 4,000 since production began, many of them used by the U.S. Army in combat, exercises and periodic testing," the newspaper writes.

At the same time, the article notes that during the last year of the decade, about 900 missiles were sold to foreign allies and partners. So 211 was sold after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. 

WP also reports that Kyiv has sent a request to the USA for the provision of several hundred ATACMS. However, the Pentagon noted that Ukraine has more urgent needs than obtaining these missiles.

"The Pentagon believes that Kyiv has other, more urgent needs than ATACMS, and worries that sending enough to Ukraine to make a difference on the battlefield would severely undercut U.S. readiness for other possible conflicts," the article said.

What is known about sending ATACMS to Ukraine

On April 19, the United States announced another USD 325 million military aid package to Ukraine, which included HIMARS and artillery shells.

At the end of May, representatives of the US Congress called on Biden to send the missiles to Ukraine. In a letter addressed to the US President, the leaders of the bipartisan Helsinki Commission called on the White House to authorize the delivery of the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine.

On June 10, members of both parties in the US House of Representatives introduced a resolution calling on Joe Biden to send ATACMS to Ukraine.

On June 21, the House Foreign Affairs Committee supported a resolution to Biden calling for the immediate delivery of ATACMS to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is close to making a decision to provide Ukraine with long-range tactical missile systems ATACMS.