From: slider@anashram.com   
      
   The White House is looking to aid Ukraine with advanced anti-ship missiles   
   against Russia’s naval blockade either via direct shipment or with help   
    from a European ally that can facilitate the transfer, officials said on   
   Thursday.   
      
   The warships being considered include Boeing’s Harpoon and Kongsberg and   
   Raytheon’s Naval Strike Missile, in a move that could bring Washington in   
   increased conflict with Moscow.   
      
   The move is a response to a shopping list provided by Kyiv, that included   
   a request for missiles to end the Russian navy’s control of Ukraine’s   
   Black Sea ports so it can resume the trade of grains and other   
   agricultural produce.   
      
   Concerns have been raised in the US that sending longer range, more   
   powerful artillery across the continent will require lengthy training,   
   create challenges in managing the equipment and even risk seizure of the   
   weapons technology by Russian forces. There is also the possibility of   
   Russia viewing the move as an escalation of the US’s involvement in the   
   conflict.   
      
   According to the US officials, some countries are willing to send Harpoons   
   to Ukraine but do not want to be the first or the only nation to do so,   
   fearing backlash from Russia in the event a ship is sunk with a Harpoon   
    from their military aid to Ukraine, an official told the Reuters news   
   agency.   
      
   But that could soon change as one “well stocked” country is considering   
   sending the missile to Ukraine and if it succeeds, others might follow   
   suit, the officials said.   
      
   At the same time, the US is trying to work on a plan for Ukraine to   
   receive the Naval Strike Missile and launchers from its European allies.   
      
   If secured, Ukraine could use the naval missile from its coast and target   
   points at a range of 250km (155 miles).   
      
   Considered less logistically challenging than Harpoons, it takes less than   
   14 days to learn how to operate Naval Strike Missiles.   
      
   These can be launched via mobile ground launchers which are easily   
   available via Nato allies, and with warheads which can be loaned by Norway.   
      
   Another option for western nations is to get the Naval Strike Missiles   
   donated by Norway to Ukraine, which has been backed by Norwegian lawmakers.   
      
   Other artillery requested by Kyiv includes Multiple Rocket Launch Systems   
   (MLRS) like the M270 by Lockheed Martin, which can take out a target   
   beyond 70 km (43 miles) away — three times the range of the howitzer   
   rounds in Ukraine’s existing stock.   
      
   All weapons carrying US tech like Harpoons and Naval Strike Missiles will   
   have to be cleared by the US State Department, which gets final approval   
    from the White House.   
      
   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/us-ukraine-anti-   
   hip-missiles-b2083599.html   
      
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