Biden unveils $1.2 billion arms package for Ukraine's defense
The Biden administration is set to announce a final package in the coming days under the USAI program, using the remaining funds allocated for purchasing new weapons for Ukraine, according to Reuters, which cites two sources. The package is valued at $1.2 billion.
The package will include air defense systems and artillery ammunition.
Under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, military equipment is bought from the defense industry or partners, rather than taken from U.S. stockpiles. This means its delivery to the battlefield might take months or even years.
The USAI package may be one of the last steps taken by the United States towards direct military support of Ukraine, as Kyiv prepares for the possible return of President-elect Donald Trump, writes Reuters. Trump has publicly questioned the legitimacy of military aid and has promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has committed to providing Ukraine with assistance worth $175 billion, including about $61.4 billion for security assistance.
Approximately half of this security assistance has been provided through the USAI program, while the rest has come from existing military stockpiles under presidential drawdown authorities. There remains $5.6 billion under these authorities.
The State Department and the Pentagon have declined to comment on the upcoming announcement, stating that they "do not discuss security assistance packages before they are officially revealed."
The USAI program has been beneficial for American defense contractors, who have been able to secure orders for newly manufactured weapons and open new revenue streams.
An example is the VAMPIRE (Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment) system from L3Harris Technologies, an anti-drone system that received its first order funded by USAI in August 2022. L3Harris delivered the first four units within 12 months. The company has seen increased interest in the system, resulting in many subsequent orders under the USAI program.
