United States hands over cluster munitions, air defense missiles and HIMARS to Ukraine
22 September, 2023 Avenger short-range self-propelled air defense system. Photo credits: US Army The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine.
This is stated on the website of the U.S. Department of Defense. The value of this tranche amounts to £325 million.
The transfer of additional weapons was announced at Joe Biden's meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to the United States.
AIM-9 air-to-air missile
Specifically, the new package includes AIM-9M missiles for air defense, Avenger air defense systems with Stinger missiles and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system of the Ukrainian military. April 2023. Ukraine.
Frame from the video of the Army of Ukraine
The Ukrainian military will also receive 12.7 mm (Browning M2) heavy machine guns to fight drones.
DPICM rounds of the US army, during exercises in South Korea. Photo credits: US Army
The package will also reinforce Ukraine's cannon artillery: a second batch of 155mm artillery rounds, including DPICM and 105mm artillery rounds, is to be delivered. To combat Russian armored vehicles, the Ukrainian Defense Forces will receive Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles and Javelin anti-armor missiles, as well as AT-4 anti-armor systems.
TOW ATGM.
Photo from open sources
Over 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition, 59 light tactical vehicles, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, as well as spare parts and maintenance services and other field equipment will be delivered to the Ukrainian infantry. Also, during the meeting between Biden and Zelensky, it became known that the first American Abrams main battle tanks would arrive in Ukraine next week. At Ukraine's request, the Pentagon has extended the training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on American M1 Abrams tanks for several more weeks.
The training has been extended while 31 American Abrams tanks, which are being prepared for the transfer to Ukraine as part of military aid.
Abrams tank.
Photo from open sources
The United States continues to work with its allies and partners to ensure that Ukraine has the capabilities to meet its immediate needs on the battlefield and its long-term security assistance needs in countering Russian invasion.