US has announced an additional $1.3 Billion in military aid for Ukraine. The package comprises air defense capabilities, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ammunition.
“The Pentagon issued this statement as the initial step in a contracting process to supply Ukraine with priority capabilities,” the statement read.
The United States is utilizing funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, enabling President Joe Biden’s administration to procure weapons from industry rather than depleting U.S. weapons reserves.
The US military aid for Ukraine includes four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and ammunition, 152 millimeter artillery rounds, mine clearing equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Pentagon.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced this aid after a virtual Ukraine defense group meeting, with allies supporting Ukraine against Russian occupation..
The delivery of the weapons and systems is subject to availability and production schedules.
Under the USAI in fiscal year 2023, the Pentagon supplied Ukraine with over $10.8 billion in security assistance. The proposed package would be the eighth. In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, USAI funds worth $6.3 billion was used to purchase Ukrainian defense equipment.
Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $40 billion in security and military assistance.
The package includes two types of loitering munitions: Phoenix Ghost by AVEVEX and Switchblade by AeroVironment.
Earlier this month, the United States declared its intention to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions – a banned weapon in over 100 countries. This decision has drawn opposition from human rights groups and some U.S. allies, including Germany and Canada.
