New US weapons aid package to Ukraine worth $500 million

The US Defense Department announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defence needs up to $500 million.

The new defence package includes ground equipment and ammunition. This includes 30 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and 25 Stryker armoured personnel carriers.

According to DoD this package, valued at up to $500 million, includes key capabilities to support Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations, strengthen its air defences to help Ukraine protect civilians, as well as additional armoured vehicles, anti-armor systems, critical munitions, and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia’s war of aggression.

Military capabilities in new US package include:

• Additional munitions for Patriot air defence systems;
• Stinger anti-aircraft systems;
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• Demolitions munitions and systems for obstacle clearing;
• Mine clearing equipment;
• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
• 30 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles;
• 25 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers;
• Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
• Javelin anti-armor systems;
• AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• Anti-armor rockets;
• High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs);
• Precision aerial munitions;
• Small arms and over 22 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
• Thermal imagery systems and night vision devices;
• Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair;
• Spare parts, generators, and other field equipment.

As Biden administration stated: “The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements.”

With the help of military equipment provided by Western partners Ukraine can repel Russian assaults and conduct efficient counteroffensives. Ukrainian leadership has expressed gratitude to partners for the supplies, and determination to liberate territories occupied by Russian invaders.

US-supplied Abrams tanks expected soon

Earlier, the Pentagon reported that the Ukrainian military will complete training on Abrams tanks by the end of this summer. The training program’s conclusion will coincide with the projected autumn delivery of the 31 M1A1 Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine earlier this year.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive and its outcome is the most expected event of the year in the Russia-Ukraine war. In June, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched offensives in several areas of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, and liberated a dozen of settlements. Still, it’s not the expected wider counteroffensive yet.

Read also: Ukrainian Army’s counteroffensive: Western weapons and expectations