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Advanced radar systems being shipped to Ukraine to counter artillery strikes by pro-Russia separatists have been modified to prevent them from peering into Russia, according to U.S. officials. The modifications drew fire from a leading Republican critic of the Obama administration, who called it a misguided attempt to mollify Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Barack Obama signed an order on Sept. 29 to give Ukraine two radar systems worth $10 million each. U.S. officials said this week that the systems would arrive at Ukraine’s Yavoriv training ground by mid-November. Advertisement U.S. Army officials said they hope the radar would provide Ukraine with a new capability for stopping artillery and rocket attacks launched by separatists. Other officials said the transfer also would send a message to Kiev that Washington’s support for its security forces remains strong. But with a cease-fire holding in eastern Ukraine and artillery attacks significantly reduced, the U.S. doesn’t want the equipment to antagonize Russia. The modifications are supposed to ensure that Ukrainian forces don’t escalate the current conflict by using the new systems to counter fire originating from Russian territory, officials said. Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the modifications to weaken the radar were symptomatic of a “delusional view” by the Obama administration that Mr. Putin will modify his behavior in Ukraine. “This is part of their continuing effort to appease Vladimir Putin,” he said. “It sends a signal to Russia and Ukraine that we are not willing to seriously confront Vladimir Putin’s aggression.” Republicans, and some Democrats, have been urging the Obama administration to provide more systems to Ukraine, including Javelin antitank missiles. The Obama administration has been unwilling to provide any equipment that could be construed as offensive weaponry. Restrictions on the intelligence the U.S. has provided Ukraine have led to criticism in Congress and in Kiev. Satellite imagery provided by the U.S. typically only includes Ukrainian territory, obscuring activity and troop buildups on Russia’s side of the border. Advertisement Russian officials didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. Moscow typically has been critical of American and allied support for Kiev. The deliveries come as the U.S. steps up training for Ukrainian forces. The U.S. has been training Ukrainian National Guard units for some time, but those troops generally don’t serve on the front lines. Beginning next month, the Pentagon will begin training regular Army units, defense officials said. The training will include six battalions, including five conventional and one special operations force battalion. The systems, known as AN/TPQ-36 counter- artillery radar, will be given to front-line Ukrainian army troops to use. U.S. forces plan to begin training on how to use them as soon as they arrive. U.S. Army officials said the systems will protect against both rocket and artillery attacks. Army officials identified surplus radar that could be sent to Ukraine last summer. But the transfer had to be approved by the White House. Officials said giving Ukraine the systems was consistent with the current policy of providing nonlethal defensive material. The U.S. has spent months vetting Ukrainian units that would use the new systems. Officials said the vetting took longer than expected but would be complete by the time the radar systems arrive next month. The radar systems have a range of at least 15 miles, and represent a significant advance from the U.S.- provided Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar systems that Ukrainian forces have been using to pinpoint artillery fire. U.S. officials said Ukrainians have developed innovative tactics for the use of the lightweight systems, and hope they will do the same with the larger, longer range systems. But U.S. officials said the new radar are likely to provide a tempting target for any Russian troops active in eastern Ukraine. U.S. officials said they are worried that Russian forces will target the radar, either seeking to jam or destroy the equipment, and will train vetted Ukrainian forces on how to minimize chances it can be detected by Russian forces. U.S. Army officials have identified six surplus Q-36 systems currently stored in a Pennsylvania depot. If Congress approves additional money and the Ukrainians show that they can use the systems effectively, officials said, the transfer of the other four would be considered. Write to Julian E. Barnes at [email protected] and Gordon Lubold at [email protected] WSJ MEMBER MESSAGE Give the Giſt of WSJ This holiday season, enjoy a special 50% off deal when you buy the Journal for your friends and family. GIVE NOW SPONSORED OFFERS HERTZ: 40% off base rates with Hertz promo code FOOT LOCKER: Foot Locker coupons - 15% off $75 spend GROUPON: Exclusive Groupon promo code for an extra 20% off your purchase SHOW CONVERSATION (14) Huge Disparity in Corporate Profits Hints at Something Amiss The Money Men Who Enabled Adam Neumann and the WeWork Debacle Economists Got the Decade All Wrong. They’re Trying to Figure Out Why. 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Transcript of U.S. to Ship Modified Radar Systems to Ukraine · 40% off base rates with Hertz promo code FOOT...
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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S H OW CO N V E R S AT I O N ( 1 4)
Huge Disparity in Corporate Profits Hintsat Something Amiss
The Money Men Who Enabled AdamNeumann and the WeWork Debacle
Economists Got the Decade All Wrong.They’re Trying to Figure Out Why.
New North America Trade Deal Seen asTemplate for Deals to Come
Venmo Glitch Opens Window on WarBetween Banks, Fintech Firms
U.S., China Agree to Limited Deal to HaltTrade War
How You Can Get Big Gains That WallStreet Can’t
After Brexit, Fractured EU Faces NewChallenges
Slow VA Payments Left Veterans FacingCollection Agencies
How the 1% Scrubs Its Image Online
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
WHAT TO READ NEXT...
POLITICS
U.S., China Agree to Limited Deal to Halt TradeWar
BUSINESS
Boeing’s Fixes to 737 MAX Not Likely to Get FAAApproval Until February
LATIN AMERICA
Bolivia’s Accidental Leader Tries to Fend Off EvoMorales, Set New Vote
U.S.
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MANSION GLOBAL ARTICLE
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MOST POPULAR ARTICLES
EUROPE
U.S. to Ship ModifiedRadar Systems toUkraineModifications would prevent Ukraine fromsnooping on Russia
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
Independent of The Wall Street Journal newsroom
PERSONAL FINANCE
The hottest housing markets of 2020 are far fromthe coasts
Independent of The Wall Street Journal newsroom
ECONOMY & POLITICS
Fox News host delivers a scathing rebuke ofTrump? Yes, it happened... again
U.S.-China Trade Deal: What's Left toNegotiate1.
Opinion: How the Steele DossierDrove the FBI's Fusion Fiasco2.
Impeachment Moves Forward, butDebate Is Locked in an Impasse3.
In the Elevator with DoorDash CEOTony Xu4.
Boris Johnson Wins U.K. Election,Pledges to ‘Get Brexit Done’5.
Trump’s Impeachment RebukeBookended by Policy Victories1.
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The Money Men Who Enabled AdamNeumann and the WeWork Debacle3.
West Point, Annapolis OfficialsInvestigating Possible ‘White Power’Hand Sign
4.
Opinion: Seattle’s Wage MandateKills Restaurants5.
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