Ammunition for NASAMS and HIMARS: an additional military assistance package from the United States

3 November, 2023 NASAMS air defense system. Photo credits: Raytheon The U.S.

Department of Defense has announced an additional military aid package for Ukraine. U.S. Department of Defense announced this.

It includes the drawdown of security assistance from DoD inventories valued at up to £125 million to meet Ukraine's immediate battlefield needs. In addition, the package includes £300 million under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses over the long term.

Illustrative photo with boxes of ammunition from the US Army.

2017. USA.

Photo credits: dvidshub.net.

This package utilizes assistance previously authorized for Ukraine during prior fiscal years under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Specific capabilities in this package include:

  • Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
  • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
  • 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
  • Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
  • Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
  • More than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
  • Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;
  • M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
  • 12 trucks to transport heavy equipment;
  • Cold weather gear; and spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

Under USAI, the DoD will provide Ukraine with:

  • Additional laser-guided munitions to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Unlike Presidential Drawdown, which draws equipment down from DoD stocks as well as defense services, education, and training, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry for Ukraine. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process through USAI to provide additional capabilities to Ukraine's Armed Forces.

This package makes use of £300 million of USAI available under the Continuing Resolution that Congress recently passed, and exhausts the remaining USAI funds currently available to support Ukraine.

155 mm artillery shells. Photo credits: telegraph.co.uk.

The Administration continues to call on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russia's brutal war of choice. "Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security.

It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deters potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people.

This security assistance package signals the United States' continued commitment to support the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression," the statement reads.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Netherlands will provide Ukraine with an additional military aid package that includes artillery and tank ammunition.

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