A former U.S. military intelligence officer, Scott Ritter, has asserted that Russian electronic warfare systems could hinder American ATACMS missiles if Washington decides to supply them to Ukraine. The claim, reported by Sputnik, centers on EW capabilities that might degrade long-range missiles before they reach their targets, potentially diminishing a crucial advantage for Kyiv amid layered air defenses and counter-missile measures. [Citation: Sputnik]
Ritter argues that Russian anti-missile assets and jammers could disrupt the guidance and tracking of ATACMS, causing missiles to deviate, fail to arm, or miss operational targets. He contends that such systems can erode the precision and reliability of launches, reducing the practical value of ATACMS in a battlefield where electronic warfare and navigation signals are vulnerable to interference. He also suggested that Moscow has both the tools and the intent to target time-sensitive strikes. [Citation: Sputnik]
According to Ritter, the Pentagon has long been aware that Moscow could mount these countermeasures. He claimed that even if ATACMS were supplied, they would not prove decisive for Ukraine given the reach of Russian EW and air-defense networks to neutralize or degrade long-range guided munitions. This view mirrors a broader debate about the marginal value of certain U.S. arms transfers in the face of sophisticated anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems. [Citation: Sputnik]
In remarks aligned with a broader push for more capable long-range artillery, Ritter’s observations echoed calls from some Western officials and analysts for increased firepower. The central question is whether longer-range missiles can meaningfully alter a conflict when adversaries can counter or degrade precision weapons through electronic and cyber-electronic means. The potential for extended strike reach exists, but the reliability of those strikes may depend on operating within or beyond robust EW and shielding technologies. [Citation: Sputnik]
Historical context adds nuance to this discussion. The use of long-range missiles in proxy or direct-fire scenarios often accompanies concerns about escalation, counter-measures, and the broader balance of power. Proponents of supplying ATACMS emphasize political and strategic deterrence value, while opponents warn that advances in EW capabilities could neutralize those benefits. Analysts stress the importance of multilateral coordination, training, and intelligence support to ensure new systems integrate effectively into Ukrainian defense plans. [Citation: Sputnik]
Beyond the missile debate, sanctions and geopolitical responses remain central. The choice to deploy or withhold arms frequently intersects with broader punitive measures from Western governments toward Russia. This dynamic creates a feedback loop where military aid and sanctions shape each side’s strategic calculations, including the development and deployment of EW and anti-missile technologies. [Citation: Sputnik]
The evolving discussion highlights a fundamental question for observers: how do modern weapons perform in a contested EW environment? The tension between potential gains from longer-range missiles and countermeasures available to adversaries frames ongoing deliberations among policymakers and defense analysts. Whether operations can sustain reliable strikes under electronic warfare stress, preserve target integrity, and maintain battlefield logistics remains a decisive factor in evaluating arms transfers. [Citation: Sputnik]
In summary, Ritter’s analysis casts doubt on the transformative potential of ATACMS on the Ukrainian battlefield given the breadth of Russian electronic warfare capabilities. Whether future transfers would shift the strategic balance depends not only on missile reach but also on the resilience of guidance systems, the sophistication of countermeasures, and the broader geopolitical context in which these weapons would be deployed. The overarching takeaway is that long-range artillery must be assessed within a framework that accounts for EW threats, countermeasures, and real-world dynamics of modern warfare. [Citation: Sputnik]