US announces another $1B military aid package for Ukraine, bringing total to nearly $10B

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The Biden administration announced another $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine on Monday.
• It is the largest installment yet since Russia launched an invasion in February.
• The upcoming $1 billion security assistance package is the 18th such tranche, bringing U.S. commitment to Ukraine to about $9.8 billion.

The Biden administration announced Monday that it will send an additional $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine as the war continues into its sixth month. It is the largest weapons installment yet since Russia launched an invasion in late February.

The upcoming security assistance package, the 18th such tranche, brings U.S. commitment to nearly $10 billion. The package includes munitions for long-range weapons and armored medical transport vehicles.

The latest installment of military aid consists of additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS, 75,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition, 20 120 mm mortar systems and 20,000 rounds of 120 mm mortar ammunition as well as munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems or NASAMS.

The Lockheed Martin-manufactured HIMARS are designed to shoot a variety of missiles from a mobile 5-ton truck and have been on the top of Ukrainian wish lists.

According to Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Colin Kahl, the U.S. was not sending HIMARS in this latest package, only ammunition for the rocket system. Kahl did not say how many rounds of ammunition would be included in the next delivery.

Since the war started, the U.S. has sent 16 HIMARS to Ukraine.

The Pentagon is also expected to send 1,000 Javelins, hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems, 50 armored medical treatment vehicles, anti-personnel munitions, explosives, demolition munitions and demolition equipment.

 “At every stage of this conflict, we have been focused on getting the Ukrainians what they need, depending on the evolving conditions on the battlefield,” Kahl said.

“We are working around the clock to fulfill Ukraine’s priority security assistance requests, delivering weapons from the United States stocks when they are available and facilitating the delivery of weapons by allies,” he added.

“We will continue to consult closely with Ukraine and surge additional available systems and capabilities carefully calibrated to make a difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s eventual position at the negotiating table,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. 

Source: Axios