The Pentagon on Tuesday announced plans to send to Ukraine up to $150 million in ammunition, artillery, anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft weapons and other equipment.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that this new aid package includes air defense assets, artillery, anti-tank systems, and other resources that will “further enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory against Russian aggression while continuing its counteroffensive against Russian forces.”
This aid package marks the 49th instance within the framework of the Presidential Drawdown Authority mechanism since February 2022, through which Ukrainian military forces receive equipment from U.S. stockpiles.
The Pentagon clarified that the military aid package includes the following:
- Additional ammunition for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), AIM-9M missiles for air defense, and Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
- ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS);
- 155mm and 105mm artillery shells;
- TOW anti-tank missiles and Javelin anti-tank systems;
- two million rounds of small arms ammunition;
- night vision devices;
- explosive ordnance disposal supplies;
- winter gear, spare parts, and other auxiliary equipment.
The most recent U.S. military aid package for Ukraine was announced on October 11th, during a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues in Ukraine, with a value of $200 million.
The total amount of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion amounts to approximately $44 billion, but its future is uncertain due to the absence of a Speaker of the House of Representatives.