US Details Its Largest-Ever Weapons Package for Ukraine

 

The $3 billion package includes surface-to-air missiles, counter artillery radars, surveillance drones

by Dave DeCamp 

Posted onAugust 24, 2022CategoriesNewsTagsUkraine

President Biden on Wednesday announced new military aid for Ukraine worth nearly $3 billion, marking the single largest weapons package for Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion on February 24.

The Pentagon detailed the contents of the $2.98 billion package and said it demonstrates the US commitment to “supporting Ukraine over the long term.” The Pentagon said the new aid represents “multi-year investments to build the enduring strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.”

The new weapons package includes:

• Six additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) with additional munitions for NASAMS
• Up to 245,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition
• Up to 65,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition
• Up to 24 counter-artillery radars
• Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and support equipment for Scan Eagle UAS systems
• VAMPIRE Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Laser-guided rocket systems
• Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment

The funds are being pulled from the $40 billion Ukraine aid bill President Biden signed in May. The weapons will be sent to Ukraine through a program known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows the US government to purchase equipment for Kyiv from the arms industry.

The Pentagon said that the announcement marks the beginning of the contract process to purchase the weapons for Ukraine. Most weapons the US has sent to Ukraine were done under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows President Biden to send arms directly from US military stockpiles. The new package brings the total of direct military aid for Kyiv since the war started to about $13.6 billion.

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/08/24/us-details-its-largest-ever-weapons-package-for-ukraine/