Ukraine, Ukraine conflict | Reuters: – The US is discussing the possibility of Norway donating heavy weapons
Ukraine has long begged the outside world for access to heavier weapons, including naval missiles. Naval missiles were built for President Volodymyr Zelenskyj when he addressed the Storting in March.
The White House is now working hard to find a solution that could equip Ukraine with naval missiles, so that the Ukrainians can defeat Russia’s maritime blockade in the Black Sea.
– That blockade is a huge problem that can be long-lasting. Most of the vessels in the Russian Black Sea Fleet are new corvettes and frigates, as well as submarines. They are an important factor when it comes to attacking Ukrainian targets deep inland, says researcher and teacher at the Norwegian Defense College / Naval Academy, StÃ¥le Ulriksen, to Nettavisen.
Also read: The New York Times claims to have video evidence of Russian war crimes in Butsja
Norwegian contribution of sea target missiles?
One of the solutions that is allegedly discussed at a high official level in the US, is that Norway donates sea target missiles to Ukraine, according to Reuters.
The online newspaper has been in contact with the Ministry of Defense and asked whether the ministry is aware that the USA is allegedly discussing the possibility of a Norwegian contribution of naval missiles, and whether Norway has received any direct requests from US officials regarding this.
– The government is continuously considering whether Norway should send more weapons / materiel to Ukraine. We do not comment on these assessments and any ongoing or future contributions, press officer Lars Gjemble in an e-mail to Nettavisen.
– Several alternative discussions
The French news agency Reuters quotes three anonymous official US officials and two anonymous sources in the US Congress.
The American sources state that there are two types of naval missiles that are being considered for transport to Ukraine – either American Harpoon missiles from Boeing or Norwegian-produced NSM (Naval Strike Missile) which is produced by the Kongsberg Group. The Americans have both Harpoon missiles and NSM in their spring arsenal, but one possibility that is reportedly up for consideration is that the contributions of naval missiles are made through a European NATO ally.
The Harpoon missiles are basically sea-based missiles, and there is limited access to launch ramps that can be used to fire the Harpoon missiles from land.
The sources inform Reuters that deliveries of NSM to Ukraine are considered to be less logistically challenging than deliveries of the Harpoon missiles, because available launch ramps can be lent by NATO allies and that missiles can possibly be delivered from Norway.
Also read: This is the story behind Zelenskyj’s embroidered shirt
Ulriksen says that the construction of the American Harpoon missiles dates from the 1970s, while NSM is much more modern sea target missiles with smart constructions that are relatively user-friendly.
– It is relatively unproblematic to use these missiles from a truck.
However, the naval missiles require a launch pad if they are to be fired from land.
– Norway does not have its own ground-based launchers (launch ramps, editor’s note) for these target missiles, we only have them on frigates and corvettes. But Kongsberggruppen has sold launchers mounted on trucks to Poland, they are operational there, says Ulriksen.
Also read: George W. Bush talked to himself: – Iraq … uh, I mean Ukraine
Can the United States press Norway?
Reuters writes that “the United States is trying to find a solution where Ukraine can procure NSM and launching ramps from European allies”, and that an alternative “would be for Norway to donate NSM to Ukraine.
– If the USA asks Norway to donate NSM to Ukraine, how much pressure is there on Norway to actually do away with such naval target missiles, Ulriksen?
– It depends on how much muscle the US puts behind the request. It is clear that the Americans are very important to us, and they can put a lot of pressure in Norway. Such pressure is very common when it comes to arms sales, but this is a slightly different situation. Norway does not have very large stocks of ammunition. If Norway is to give away sea target missiles to Ukraine, we must at the same time submit an order and order for more sea target missiles to the Kongsberg Group. It can take a long time to get the deliveries, he says.
– How much does each sea target missile cost?
– Between 10 and 20 million kroner. But a missile can destroy vessels that cost many billions, says Ulriksen.
He says it is a well-kept secret how many naval missiles Norway actually has in its arsenal.
– But we have four frigates and six corvettes with eight naval missiles each. So there will be a total of eight times sea target missiles. In addition, you should have more charges lying around, he says.
Also read: The dying Russian soldiers are young and poor
– Fear of Russian reprisals
Reuters sources state that a handful of NATO countries are initially willing to dispose of Harpoon missiles to Ukraine. However, the nations in question are reluctant to be the first country to make donations, according to Reuters’ sources, for fear of reprisals from Russia should one of their donated naval missiles hit and sink a Russian vessel.
– I know that some people think that way, but I completely disagree with that argument. Once you have donated weapons to Ukraine, these weapons will in any case be used to destroy equipment and kill people. I doubt that the order of the donations makes any difference, says Ulriksen.
– Will not be able to lift the blockade
Even if Ukraine were to gain access to naval missiles, there is great uncertainty about how much military effect it will have on the Russian blockade in the Black Sea.
– Land-based naval missiles will neither be able to lift the blockade nor stop the missile attacks. Naval missiles such as NSM have a range of less than 200 kilometers, the Russian land missiles have a range of over 2000 kilometers. They can thus shoot safely from a long distance, says Ulriksen.
– The blockade in the Black Sea will in any case not be lifted by Ukraine if they receive naval missiles. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has modern submarines that cannot be reached with NSM. In theory, a NSM naval missile could take out a submarine lying on the surface. But it is completely impossible to take the submarines with sea target missiles as long as the submarines are under water, he says.