NewsNew $2.3B weapons package boosts Ukraine's defense with critical systems

New $2.3B weapons package boosts Ukraine's defense with critical systems

The White House announced a new weapons package for Ukraine with a total value of $2.3 billion. As part of the tranche, the USA will provide, among other things, artillery ammunition, rockets for HIMARS systems, and air defense systems from its arsenal, as well as purchase large quantities of missiles for the Patriot and NASAMS systems for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army is using HIMARS systems in the war sparked by Russia.

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2:06 AM EDT, July 4, 2024

The new package will primarily include ammunition for the critical systems used by the Ukrainian army. These include the HIMARS system, artillery, HAWK air defense systems, 155 mm and 105 mm howitzers, mortars, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles, and AT-4 grenade launchers. Additionally, Ukraine will receive aerial navigation systems and other aviation equipment.

In addition to the equipment transferred directly from American stocks, the USA will also purchase Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles for Kyiv valued at $2.2 billion. According to the Pentagon, the missiles will reach the front according to an accelerated schedule due to the decision to prioritize supplies for Ukraine at the expense of some other countries ordering these missiles.

Large package for Ukraine

The package, worth $2.35 billion, is one of the largest of the sixty tranches approved to date.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense on the phone. According to the State Department, the politicians discussed, among other things, "solutions to improve resilience and energy security before the winter." Blinken supported Ukraine's reforms to bring it closer to EU and NATO membership.