Ukraine is getting an arsenal thanks to America – The U.S. continues to send weapons to Ukraine to support the Ukrainian military in its fight against the Russian invasion. Thus far, the U.S. military has sent almost $4 billion in security aid to Ukraine since February 24, when the first Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
The latest Ukraine military aid package that was announced last week includes more M-777 155mm howitzers and supporting equipment.
More Howitzers to Ukraine
The latest military aid package to Ukraine is worth $100 million. It comes from a preexisting approval of drawdown authorities—meaning that the White House has cleared the U.S. military to send Ukraine weapon systems from its own inventories.
The package comprises artillery and counter-artillery weapon systems, reflecting the heavy fighting that is taking place in eastern Ukraine and the Donbas.
“This was in preexisting authorities that we already had available to us and in that package there will be 18 [M-777] 155 millimeter howitzers, 18 tactical vehicles to tow those howitzers and 18 artillery tubes basically is our equivalent of a battalion. An artillery battalion. And three ANTPQ 36 counter artillery radars,” Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a press briefing.
As of today, the U.S. has committed more than $4.6 billion in security assistance over the past two years, including $3.9 billion since the invasion started. Since 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine, the U.S. has contributed $6.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
“This is the same counter artillery radar system that we talked about before that had been provided to Ukraine and then some ancillary field equipment and spare parts. And that brings to a close the preexisting authorities that we had in drawn down 100 million. That stuff will start to flow very, very soon. I cannot give you an exact date of when it’s all going to show up in Ukraine,” the Pentagon Press Secretary added.
Lots of Weapons Heading to Ukraine
The U.S. military has committed to providing Ukraine with the following weapons systems so far:
-Over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
-Over 5,500 Javelin anti-armor systems;
-Over 14,000 other anti-armor systems;
-Over 700 Switchblade Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
-108 M-777 155mm Howitzers and over 200,000 155mm artillery rounds;
-80 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
-16 Mi-17 helicopters;
-Hundreds of Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles;
-200 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
-Over 7,000 small arms;
-Over 50,000,000 rounds of ammunition;
-75,000 sets of body armor and helmets;
-121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems;
-Laser-guided rocket systems;
-Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems;
-Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels;
-21 ANTPQ 36 counter-artillery radars;
-Four counter-mortar radars;
-Two air surveillance radars;
-M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
-C-4 explosives and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing;
-Tactical secure communications systems;
-Night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders;
-Commercial satellite imagery services;
-Explosive ordnance disposal protective gear;
-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment;
-Medical supplies to include first aid kits;
-Electronic jamming equipment;
-Field equipment and spare parts.
1945’s New Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
