The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Ukraine for long-term sustainment and support services related to M777 howitzers, valued at up to $104 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress of the decision, the agency said in a release.
According to the notification, the Government of Ukraine has requested a package that includes equipment, repair services, technical assistance, training, publications, and other elements of logistics and program support. The proposed deal includes no Major Defense Equipment (MDE) and focuses entirely on sustainment and integration.
In a statement, the State Department said the sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
The planned support package comes as Ukraine continues to rely on Western-supplied artillery systems in its defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
Since the start of the conflict, the United States, Canada, and Australia have delivered large numbers of towed 155mm M777 howitzers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to a Pentagon fact sheet published last year, the U.S. alone provided nearly 200 M777 units.
The proposed sale, the State Department says, is expected to enhance Ukraine’s ability to conduct both self-defense and regional security missions by improving its local sustainment infrastructure.
“Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces,” the release noted.
The U.S. government emphasized that the package will not alter the basic military balance in the region. No additional U.S. personnel will be deployed to Ukraine as a result of this sale, and the implementation will not affect U.S. defense readiness.
BAE Systems, based in Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom, will be the principal contractor for the proposed package. No offset agreements are currently in place, and any potential offsets will be addressed in future negotiations between the Ukrainian government and the contractor, the DSCA said.
The M777 system, designed for rapid deployment and precision indirect fire support, has played a key role in Ukraine’s artillery capabilities. Lightweight and transportable by helicopter or cargo aircraft, it offers a high rate of fire and is compatible with precision-guided munitions, including the M982 Excalibur round.
The sale does not include new howitzers, but rather enhances Ukraine’s ability to sustain the systems already delivered. Ukrainian forces, which have reported intensive use of the M777s over extended combat rotations, are expected to benefit from renewed repair capacity, spare parts, and technical training to keep the guns in service.