The U.S. on Friday approved a new $400 million weapons aid package for Ukraine, which includes providing Kyiv with additional ammunition to assist in its fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“This package features more ammunition and support equipment for Ukraine’s precision fires, artillery and armored vehicle operations,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The latest security assistance deal is the 33rd Presidential Drawdown Authority package for Ukraine, with equipment to be provided directly from current DoD inventories.
The new package includes plans to supply Ukraine with more ammunition for Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built HIMARS launchers as well as additional 105mm artillery rounds and 25mm ammunition.
Ukraine will also receive armored vehicle-launched bridges, “demolition munitions and equipment for obstacle clearings, testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair and spare parts and other field equipment,” according to the Pentagon.
Last week, on the one year-mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. approved a $2 billion weapons aid package that includes plans to supply Kyiv with additional munitions and new drone systems to be procured with Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds (Defense Daily, Feb. 24).
Colin Kahl, under secretary of defense for policy, addressed Ukraine’s call for U.S.-made fighter jets during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, telling lawmakers the aircraft are not among the top three priorities the country needs in its war against Russia and the costs of these systems have to be weighed against nearer term needs (Defense Daily, Feb. 28).
Kahl said Ukraine has asked for upward of 128 U.S.-made 4th generation fighter aircraft, to include a mix of F-15s, F-16s and F/A-18s.