The U.S. has approved a new $1.3 billion weapons aid package for Ukraine, with the latest deal including plans to provide air defense systems as well as more drones and munitions.
The new security assistance package follows Tuesday’s meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to discuss international cooperation to aid Kyiv, and includes capabilities to be procured from industry using Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds rather than drawn from existing Pentagon inventories.
Photo: RTX
“This USAI package highlights the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraine’s pressing requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities while also building the enduring capacity of Ukraine’s armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the mid and long term,” the Pentagon said in a statement on Wednesday.
The new aid package includes plans to provide Ukraine with four more National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions, built by Kongsberg and RTX [RTX].
Ukraine will also eventually receive additional 152mm artillery rounds, TOW missiles, and unspecified “precision aerial munitions.”
The package also includes procuring additional Phoenix Ghost and Switchblade drones for Ukraine, built by Aevex Aerospace and AeroVironment [AVAV], respectively, as well as “counter-UAS and electronic warfare detection equipment.”
Ukraine is also set to receive 150 fuel trucks, 115 more tactical vehicles for towing and hauling equipment, 50 tactical vehicles for recovering equipment, port and harbor security equipment and tactical secure communications systems and mine clearing equipment.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Tuesday that clearing minefields will be key to Ukraine’s ability to carry out its ongoing counteroffensive operation.
During a press briefing following the latest Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he expects there will be more international partners establishing bilateral agreements to ensure Kyiv has “the capability to defend themselves in the future and to deter aggression in the future” (Defense Daily, July 18).
“We can expect that countries will execute bilateral agreements with Ukraine going forward. And, certainly, we will as well. And that’s a work in progress,” Austin said.
Austin’s remarks follow the G-7 leaders’ Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, detailed at NATO’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania last week, which said that negotiations with Ukraine are underway to establish “bilateral security commitments and arrangements” that will “formalize” long-term support for the country’s defense, rebuilding and “integration into the Euro-Atlantic community” (Defense Daily, July 12).
Earlier this month, the U.S. announced an $800 million weapons aid package for Ukraine that includes providing cluster munitions, specifically dual-purpose improved conventional munitions, for the first time (Defense Daily, July 7).