Copenhagen’s commitment to supply surface-to-air missiles to Harpoon ships and a launcher to Ukraine, announced by the United States on Monday, marks the first future delivery of US-made weapons to Kyiv that will allow Ukrainian forces to increase their range.
The Ukrainian government is requesting advanced weapons – anti-aircraft defense systems, surface-to-air missiles, long-range missiles, powerful artillery – but most of the military aid it has received is short-range weapons, such as anti-aircraft missiles.
The Boeing-built Harpoon estimates that Kyiv and its allies will repel the Russian navy from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, which could lead to a resumption of exports of grain and other agricultural products.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed “special gratitude to Denmark” for its decision.
The Reuters news agency reported last Thursday that the United States was working to deliver more anti-ship weapons to Ukraine, with a range of more than 100 kilometers.
Ukrainian ports are under siege by the Russian Navy, which has deployed ships and submarines in the region and laid mines.
Analysts say the supply of weapons such as the Harpoon missiles is “important” as they will “increase operational capabilities and business intensity” against Russia, according to Tom Caraco of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Studies, CSIS). These weapons, he explained, would increase the level of “danger” for Russian ships “attacking Ukraine from the Black Sea or elsewhere.”
Sources close to the US Congress and a US official acknowledge that Ukrainian Neptune surface-to-air missiles are scarce and that the Harpons will increase the Ukrainians’ ability to repel Russian warships and begin the process of clearing mines.
However, this will mean that Kyiv will depend on other states to detect and monitor targets in order to use missiles effectively against long-range ships, notes Mr. Karako of CSIS.
Some countries had agreed to send such weapons to Ukraine, according to US sources, but none wanted to be the first, or only, for fear of retaliation from Russia if a Russian ship with missiles sank.
The Danish Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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