Moscow announced today that Russian air defense forces intercepted a Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), the first time Russia claims to have intercepted such a weapon system which has the potential to double the firing range of Ukrainian forces against Russian targets.

The GLSDB, jointly built by Boeing and Saab, with an effective range of 150 km, is a new type of rocket that is launched from a rocket and then flies to its target, guided by a GPS satellite, with an effective range of 150 kilometers, about twice that of the HIMARS systems that Kiev deployed last year.

Ukraine has long sought to acquire weapons systems to strike Russian command centers, supply lines and other targets deep behind the front lines. Washington is believed to have begun procuring such systems this year.

Moscow’s statement today highlighted that Russian anti-aircraft forces shot down a GLSDB in the past 24 hours, without specifying the location of the shootdown.

A widespread deployment of the GLSDB could put many more of Russia’s supply lines in eastern Ukraine within striking distance and force Moscow to move its supply and ammunition depots further from the front lines.

Independent defense experts say the HIMARS delivered to Ukraine last year helped turn the tide of the war after Russia’s initial attempt at a blitzkrieg failed.