The United States has approved the transfer of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) guided missiles to Ukraine, a package valued at roughly $850 million (€780 million). Largely financed by European nations, the first deliveries are expected within six weeks. The announcement was held back until after President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring the political sensitivity of the deal.
The ERAM is a new-generation, air-launched standoff weapon that extends the strike capability of Western fighter aircraft. With an operational range between 240 and 450 kilometers, depending on altitude and launch profile, the missile is built for precision strikes against both mobile and fixed targets, even in contested electronic warfare environments. Its standoff range allows Ukrainian aircraft to attack without entering heavily defended enemy airspace, significantly improving mission survivability compared with shorter-range or unguided munitions.
