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Ukraine is set to receive a $1 billion arms boost as part of the latest military support package from the United States.
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The Biden administration has announced a new US$700 million (AU$976 million) military support package for Ukraine, in support of its ongoing resistance to Russian forces.
This latest package – the 11th drawdown of equipment from the US Department of Defense’s inventories for Ukraine since August 2021 – includes four Soviet-designed Mi-17 transport helicopters.
The Mi-17 helicopters were originally purchased by the US government from a Russian defence contractor to arm the Afghan military.
However, the aircraft were later retained by the US after the Afghan government was deposed.
Other items to be delivered to Ukraine as part of this latest package include:
- High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HMARS) and ammunition;
- five counter-artillery radars;
- two air surveillance radars;
- 1,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 50 Command Launch Units;
- 6,000 anti-armour weapons;
- 15,000 155mm artillery rounds;
- 15 tactical vehicles; and
- spare parts and equipment.
This latest package comes just weeks after the US authorised $100 million (AU$142 million) for the provision of:
- 18 155mm howitzers;
- 18 tactical vehicles to tow 155mm howitzers;
- three AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars; and
- field equipment and spare parts.
The Biden administration’s security assistance to Ukraine now totals approximately US$5.3 billion (AU$7.4 billion), including approximately $4.6 billion (AU$6.4 billion) since Russia launched its invasion.
“The United States also continues to work with its allies and partners to identify and provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its evolving battlefield requirements,” Pentagon deputy assistant to the secretary of defence, Todd Breasseale, said.
Australia has also actively supplied Ukrainian forces with military equipment, most recently sending 14 M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and a further 20 Thales-built Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs).
This built on the 20 Bushmasters, including two ambulance variants, initially delivered to Ukraine following a request from President Volodymyr Zelensky, taking the total number of PMVs gifted to the country to 40.
The Australian government’s latest support package also included the supply of three pallets of radiation monitoring equipment and personal protective equipment, arranged by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).
Additionally, Australia committed to delivering 60 pallets of medical supplies donated by Australian citizens.
The total value of this latest support package was approximately $60.9 million, with the 14 APCs costing an estimated $12 million and the 20 PMVs $48.9 million.
This took the total value of Australia’s contribution to Ukraine’s resistance to $285 million.
[Related: US unveils new military assistance package for Ukraine]
