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Ukrainian forces are set to receive additional artillery rounds and tactical vehicles as part of new aid commitments from the United States and the United Kingdom.
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The US Department of Defense (DOD) has authorised a presidential drawdown of US$400 million (AU$591.2 million) to further support Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression.
The security assistance package, which represents the Biden administration’s 26th drawdown for Ukraine, includes:
- 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”.
“The additional munitions for NASAMS and heavy machine guns will help Ukraine counter these urgent threats,” a US DOD spokesperson said.
“…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.”
Separately, the United Kingdom has committed to delivering an additional 10,000 artillery rounds to Ukrainian forces.
This is expected to coincide with the first delivery of Sea King helicopters in Ukraine to provide key search and rescue capabilities.
This follows the provision of a six-week program of Sea King training in the UK for 10 crews of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and associated engineers.
“Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. These additional artillery rounds will help Ukraine to secure the land it has reclaimed from Russia in recent weeks,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.
[Related: Ukraine thwarts Russian attacks with new air defence systems provided by allies]
