New U.S. Aid Package Includes Missiles for HIMARS, Ammunition and Anti-Tank Weapons
24 May, 2024 Ukrainian HIMARS. Photo credits: BBC The United States has announced a significant new security assistance package to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.
The U.S. Department of Defense reported on this. It is the fifth security assistance package the U.S.
President has authorized since signing the national security supplemental last month, and the third package in which the President has used Presidential Drawdown Authorities. This Presidential Drawdown Authority package has an estimated value of £275 million.
A Ukrainian operator of the FGM-148 Javelin ATGM at the training.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
The capabilities of this announcement include:
- Ammunition for HIMARS;
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
- 60mm mortar rounds;
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
- Precision aerial munitions;
- Small arms and additional rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
- Demolitions munitions;
- Anti-armor mines;
- Tactical vehicles to recover equipment;
- Helmets, body armor, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment;
- Spare parts, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.
"The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners to ensure Ukraine's brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression," the statement said.
Military assistance from the USA
On May 10, Militarnyi reported on the provision of a new military aid package to Ukraine, the total cost of which is estimated at £400 million. The previous tranche of aid was also provided under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program. The package included additional ammunition for HIMARS, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles.
M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle of the Ukrainian military.
June 2023. Ukraine. Photo credits: @winua22
In addition, it included additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems, and other critical equipment and weapons.
As in the previous aid package, attention is drawn to the integration of launchers, missiles and radars with Ukrainian air defense systems, better known as FrankenSAM.
As previously reported, the United States, under the FrankenSAM project, helped Ukraine get two types of anti-aircraft missile systems capable of using Western missiles.