“In addition to the Patriot air defense system, all AMRAAM missiles (for the NASAMS air defense system) will be delivered to Ukraine as a priority”
A new phase in the Air War is approaching with the improved Ukrainian Air Defenses, and the advent of the F-16s. Now the Administration has authorized striking Russian planes in the air over Russia as well.
“Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters (20 June) that while there had been no change in policy, Ukraine’s use of weapons against Russian troops was not limited to near Kharkiv on the Russian side...
...“It’s self-defense and so it makes sense for them to be able to do that,” he added.
Ryder’s remarks echo comments made by Biden’s national security adviser earlier this week.
“This is not about geography. It’s about common sense,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS. “If Russia is attacking or about to attack from its territory into Ukraine, it only makes sense to allow Ukraine to hit back against the forces that are hitting it from across the border.”
Sullivan added that Ukraine could also use air-defense systems to fire at Russian planes flying in Russian airspace, if they are about to fire into Ukrainian airspace.”
I saw that range report on FOX BIZ - they can only use ATACMS on a handful of miles across the border, but no targets like all the airfields within the ATACMS full range; such a move would provoke the Russian invaders to do “something”.
WH thinks its better to leave UKR with one hand tied up and the other half crippled so as to prolong the war