Ukraine on Tuesday carried out tests of the top of the range Javelin anti-tank missile it recently bought from the United States to boost its arsenal against Russian-backed rebels.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko posted video on Twitter showing a missile being fired and blowing up a target at a military testing ground.

"Finally the day has come," Poroshenko said after the test, which he claimed boosted Ukraine's military capabilities as it fights a long-running conflict with Russian-backed separatists in its east.

"I'm sure that as of today the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces... grew significantly."

The Javelin missiles will only be used in defence when Ukrainian positions are attacked, he said.

The US in March formally approved the sale of 210 missiles and 37 launchers by contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to Ukraine at a price of around $47 million.

Poroshenko on Tuesday thanked US President Donald Trump, hailing the missile deal as a "symbol of cooperation with our American partners."

The United States and its Western allies back Ukraine in its struggle to reunite its country since 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula and Russia-backed rebels seized two eastern industrial regions.

Washington had been cautious in the past about escalating the conflict by providing advanced "lethal" weaponry to Kiev due to the risk of heightening tensions with Moscow.

But in December the US announced it would provide Ukraine with "enhanced defensive capabilities" as the war in the east drags on, having claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014.

In recent days, there has been increased fighting in eastern Ukraine, with at least four people killed on both sides and nine wounded on Monday.

On Tuesday, rebel authorities in the Donetsk region said that an explosive device went off in a passenger bus, killing one and wounding two.

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Lockheed contracted to support Army's multiple launch rocket system
Washington (UPI) May 21, 2018
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract for rocket pods and launch tubes for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System. The contract, from the U.S. Army Contracting Command announced Friday by the Defense Department, is valued at more than $20 million. Lockheed will develop and qualify rocket pods and launch tubes in support of future Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missions, according to the Pentagon. The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System is an all-weather, armored, self-prop ... read more