US boosts Ukraine support with $725M in vital arms package
The United States has announced another aid package for Ukraine, valued at $725 million. It includes artillery and rocket ammunition, missiles for anti-aircraft systems, drones, anti-drone systems, and anti-tank weapons. Here's a detailed look at what this package contains.
6:59 AM EST, December 3, 2024
The Biden administration attempts to provide Ukraine with as much weaponry as possible before transitioning power to Donald Trump's new cabinet. His policy towards Ukraine remains uncertain. On December 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of State approved an aid package for Ukraine worth $725 million. Besides anti-tank weapons like TOW missiles and FGM-148 Javelin launchers, and AT4 grenade launchers, it includes anti-aircraft and artillery ammunition.
Missiles for air defense — The only defense against Russian missile and drone attacks
Among the most important categories are missiles for air defense systems. The NASAMS system includes missiles from the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM families, which can also be used on F-16 aircraft. For air defense, the AIM-9 allows targeting from over 6 miles up to about 19-25 miles, depending on the missile version used.
Additionally, the U.S. will provide FIM-92 Stinger sets, which are essential tools for Ukrainian mobile intervention groups targeting drones and cruise missiles. Stingers can down objects nearly 3 miles away and at altitudes close to 2.5 miles.
Artillery ammunition — A key delivery for Ukraine
Besides air defense, artillery and rocket ammunition are crucial for Ukraine. The first category includes 105 mm and 155 mm caliber shells. For the smaller caliber, there are classic shell variants with a range of 7 miles and rocket-assisted ones with a range of 9 miles. These serve as a good replacement for 122 mm solutions and can be used in ultra-light constructions like the 2-CT Hawkeye howitzer tested in Ukraine.
However, the main role is played by 155 mm caliber shells becoming predominant in Ukraine, replacing post-Soviet solutions. Ukraine receives the full range of American-produced shells, from the simplest to the most advanced.
The simplest are M107 shells or M795 shells with a cast steel body filled with 14.5 pounds or 24 pounds of TNT and a simple impact fuse. Their maximum range for artillery with a 52-caliber barrel, such as the Caesar or PzH 2000, reaches up to 19 miles, while for systems with a 39-caliber barrel, like the M777, it's 14 miles.
Subsequent M795E1 shells are equipped with a base burner located at the shell's bottom, generating gases to reduce drag, thus increasing range by 30%. The rarest unguided shell is the M549A1, equipped with a rocket booster, allowing targeting at a distance of about 31-37 miles. However, due to the need to accommodate the rocket motor, the TNT content is reduced to 15 pounds.
The U.S. has also provided Ukraine with M982 Excalibur guided shells with GPS guidance. However, their initial high effectiveness decreased once Russian forces began jamming GPS signals on a large scale.
Ammunition for M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS — Long-range weaponry
The M142 HIMARS systems include rockets from the GMLRS family, and potentially, the inclusion of MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles is suggested. GMLRS rockets have a range of up to 50 miles and are available in several variants.
It is likely that the M30 version with a cluster warhead is no longer produced and has been exhausted. Ukraine will receive M31A1/A2 variants with a 200-pound warhead containing nearly 50 pounds of TNT and the M30A1 with an Alternative Warhead. The latter is designed to explode at a height of about 30 feet, covering a significant area with a rain of 182,000 tungsten projectiles capable of penetrating bulletproof vests.
Meanwhile, MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles are 1990s weapons with a range of 103 or 186 miles, depending on the version, capable of overcoming S-400 Triumf anti-missile defenses. Ukraine may have had around 50 missiles, mainly M39 versions with a shorter range, guided only by inertial navigation. These missiles carried a massive payload of 950 M74 APAM bomblets, shaped like balls weighing 1.3 pounds and 2.4 inches in diameter, with lethal effectiveness spanning several meters.
However, it's possible that Ukraine received or will receive M39A1 versions with a greater range, achieved by reducing the bomblet payload to 300 units and increasing accuracy with added satellite navigation. Delivery of missiles with a standard fragmentation warhead, known as "unitary," is also possible.
