Ukraine will have to wait until next year to receive its first shipment of rocket-propelled bombs with a range of nearly 100 miles, according to the Pentagon and sources familiar with the timing. The Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), adapted by Boeing, will be delivered to Ukraine in early 2024 after successful verification. The GLSDB, which is jointly made by SAAB AB and Boeing, will enhance Ukraine's limited supply of ATACMS rockets and allow them to strike targets at twice the distance. The production of GLSDB was delayed due to the signing of the contract in March.

These smart bombs are GPS-guided, weather-resistant, and effective against armored vehicles. The delivery was forced towards the end of the year due to production constraints. The decision to send these long-range rockets to Ukraine followed a proposal by Boeing to US commanders in Europe last summer. Although Russia claimed to have shot down a GLSDB, the US has not yet supplied any of these weapons to Ukraine. GLSDB is a vital capability that will significantly strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities and force Russia to move its supplies further from the frontlines.