Advanced radar systems being shipped to Ukraineto counter artillery strikes by pro-Russiaseparatists have been modified to prevent themfrom peering into Russia, according to U.S. officials.
The modifications drew fire from a leadingRepublican critic of the Obama administration,who called it a misguided attempt to mollifyRussian President Vladimir Putin.
President Barack Obama signed an order on Sept.29 to give Ukraine two radar systems worth $10million each. U.S. officials said this week that thesystems would arrive at Ukraine’s Yavoriv trainingground by mid-November.
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U.S. Army officials said they hope the radar wouldprovide Ukraine with a new capability for stoppingartillery and rocket attacks launched byseparatists. Other officials said the transfer alsowould send a message to Kiev that Washington’ssupport for its security forces remains strong.
But with a cease-fire holding in eastern Ukraineand artillery attacks significantly reduced, the U.S.doesn’t want the equipment to antagonize Russia.The modifications are supposed to ensure thatUkrainian forces don’t escalate the current conflictby using the new systems to counter fireoriginating from Russian territory, officials said.
Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), chairman of theSenate Armed Services Committee, said themodifications to weaken the radar weresymptomatic of a “delusional view” by the Obamaadministration that Mr. Putin will modify hisbehavior in Ukraine.
“This is part of their continuing effort to appeaseVladimir Putin,” he said. “It sends a signal toRussia and Ukraine that we are not willing toseriously confront Vladimir Putin’s aggression.”
Republicans, and some Democrats, have beenurging the Obama administration to provide moresystems to Ukraine, including Javelin antitankmissiles. The Obama administration has beenunwilling to provide any equipment that could beconstrued as offensive weaponry.
Restrictions on the intelligence the U.S. hasprovided Ukraine have led to criticism in Congressand in Kiev. Satellite imagery provided by the U.S.typically only includes Ukrainian territory,obscuring activity and troop buildups on Russia’sside of the border.
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Russian officials didn’t immediately reply to arequest for comment. Moscow typically has beencritical of American and allied support for Kiev.
The deliveries come as the U.S. steps up trainingfor Ukrainian forces. The U.S. has been trainingUkrainian National Guard units for some time, butthose troops generally don’t serve on the frontlines. Beginning next month, the Pentagon willbegin training regular Army units, defense officialssaid. The training will include six battalions,including five conventional and one specialoperations force battalion.
The systems, known as AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radar, will be given to front-line Ukrainianarmy troops to use.
U.S. forces plan to begin training on how to usethem as soon as they arrive. U.S. Army officials saidthe systems will protect against both rocket andartillery attacks.
Army officials identified surplus radar that couldbe sent to Ukraine last summer. But the transferhad to be approved by the White House. Officialssaid giving Ukraine the systems was consistentwith the current policy of providing nonlethaldefensive material.
The U.S. has spent months vetting Ukrainian unitsthat would use the new systems. Officials said thevetting took longer than expected but would becomplete by the time the radar systems arrive nextmonth.
The radar systems have a range of at least 15 miles,and represent a significant advance from the U.S.-provided Lightweight Counter Mortar Radarsystems that Ukrainian forces have been using topinpoint artillery fire. U.S. officials said Ukrainianshave developed innovative tactics for the use of thelightweight systems, and hope they will do thesame with the larger, longer range systems.
But U.S. officials said the new radar are likely toprovide a tempting target for any Russian troopsactive in eastern Ukraine.
U.S. officials said they are worried that Russianforces will target the radar, either seeking to jam ordestroy the equipment, and will train vettedUkrainian forces on how to minimize chances it canbe detected by Russian forces.
U.S. Army officials have identified six surplus Q-36systems currently stored in a Pennsylvania depot.
If Congress approves additional money and theUkrainians show that they can use the systemseffectively, officials said, the transfer of the otherfour would be considered.
Write to Julian E. Barnes [email protected] and Gordon Lubold [email protected]
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Rebels pull heavy weaponry back Wednesday in Donetsk,Ukraine. PHOTO: TASS/ZUMA PRESS
Updated Oct. 21, 2015 4:32 pm ET
By Julian E. Barnes and Gordon Lubold
Russia-backed rebels unload mortars from trucks during apullback of weapons near Luhansk in eastern Ukraine on Oct. 15.U.S. officials said advanced radar systems being shipped toUkraine to counter artillery strikes by pro-Russia separatistshave been modified to prevent them from peering into Russia.PHOTO: MAX BLACK/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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