U.S. Weighs Sending JASSM Cruise Missiles to Ukraine to Bolster F-16 Fleet
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering authorizing the transfer of U.S.-made Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) to Ukraine, marking what could be a significant expansion in Washington’s military support, according to a source familiar with the matter, The Gaze reports, citing Military Watch Magazine.
The long-range, air-launched cruise missiles would equip Ukraine’s expanding fleet of F-16 fighters. While the aircraft are older Cold War-era models, they are capable platforms for launching JASSMs from safe distances behind Ukrainian lines, giving Kyiv the ability to strike high-value Russian targets with precision and reduced risk.
Ukraine has already integrated these Franco-British missiles into its Soviet-era Su-27 and Su-24M aircraft, but a shift to U.S.-made systems could offer broader strategic options.
JASSM missiles, which entered service in 2003, combine limited radar-evading features with highly accurate targeting capabilities and carry 450-kilogram warheads. Only four countries operate the missile today, including Poland, which received 110 JASSMs for its own F-16 fleet.
The missile’s limited export history and strict transfer policies have previously prevented even close allies like South Korea from acquiring it—highlighting the strategic sensitivity of the potential move.
The reported discussions align with a broader U.S. policy shift. On July 14, two sources indicated that Washington was weighing the transfer of another long-range missile system to Ukraine, capable of hitting targets deep inside Russian territory.
Around the same time, President Trump publicly confirmed plans to deliver another Patriot air defense system to Kyiv and hinted at additional high-tech weapons transfers.
If approved, the JASSM delivery could significantly enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capability and increase the combat value of its incoming Western aircraft, providing a timely boost as the war enters another high-stakes phase.
As The Gaze previously reported, President Donald Trump welcomed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to the White House on Monday, unveiling a new weapons agreement for Ukraine and threatening Russia with steep tariffs if peace talks fail within 50 days.