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The United Kingdom is considering whether to supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 main battle tanks, making it the first Western nation to supply the Ukrainian military with MBTs, media outlets have reported.
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According to Sky News, deliberations have been ongoing for several weeks, though no formal decision has been made.
Sources told Sky News that the move would “encourage” other Western nations to also supply the Ukrainian army with tanks.
“It will be a good precedent to demonstrate [to] others — to Germany first of all, with their Leopards … and Abrams from the United States,” the Ukrainian source told Sky News.
Sources have estimated that the delivery could be as small as 10 tanks but would encourage additional military assistance from other NATO nations by signalling growing willingness to increase lethal aid.
In December, the Biden administration authorised the 27th drawdown of security assistance for Ukraine, valued at approximately $275 million (AU$405 million).
Military capabilities in this latest package included:
- additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- 80,000 155mm artillery rounds;
- counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) equipment;
- counter air defence capability;
- high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) ambulances and medical equipment;
- approximately 150 generators; and
- field equipment.
“This security assistance package will provide Ukraine with new capabilities to boost its air defences in addition to providing critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” a Pentagon spokesperson said.
This latest package takes the total value of the United States’ security assistance to $20 billion since the Biden administration assumed office.
“To meet Ukraine’s evolving battlefield requirements, the United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities,” the spokesperson added.
The latest package comes less than a month after the Biden administration committed to delivering:
- additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
- 150 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS);
- additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- 200 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds;
- 10,000 120mm mortar rounds;
- high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARMs);
- 150 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs);
- over 100 light tactical vehicles;
- over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition;
- 0ver 200 generators; and
- spare parts for 105mm Howitzers and other equipment.
These weapons are expected to help Ukraine curb Russia’s “unrelenting and brutal missile and UAS attacks”.
[Related: US, UK deliver arms boost to Ukraine]
