Russia jamming U.S. smart bombs in Ukraine

American officials believe Russian jamming is causing the JDAMs, and at times other American weapons such as guided rockets, to miss their mark. | Eric A. Clement/U.S. Navy

By LARA SELIGMAN

04/12/2023 09:36 AM EDT

American-made smart bombs are falling victim to Russian electronic jamming in Ukraine, causing them to miss their targets, according to leaked documents and confirmed by a Defense Department official.

In some cases, the weapons were also failing to detonate due to a technical issue, which Ukrainian troops have since addressed.

The news adds to an increasingly bleak picture of the state of Ukraine’s military that has emerged from a trove of top secret intelligence documents that leaked on social media and came to light over the past week. The documents show that Washington has grave concerns about Kyiv’s dwindling ammunition and air defenses, which could cause it to fall short of its goals for the anticipated spring counteroffensive.

By LARA SELIGMAN

04/12/2023 09:36 AM EDT