DOD to provide Ukraine with aerial defense package

Image: U.S. Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense (DOD) will provide a new package of security assistance for Ukraine to aid with ongoing Russian aerial attacks. The package includes defense tools such as GPS-guided rockets and counter-UAV equipment.

The presidential drawdown package includes:

• additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems
• additional 155 mm artillery rounds
• additional 120 mm mortar rounds
• 190 heavy machine guns with thermal imagery sights and associated ammunition to counter unmanned aerial systems
• 181 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles
• 250 Javelin anti-armor systems
• 2,000 anti-armor rockets
• Claymore anti-personnel munitions
• demolitions munitions
• cold weather gear, helmets and other field equipment.

Under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), DOD will provide Ukraine with:

• two HAWK air defense firing units
• anti-aircraft guns and ammunition
• equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems
• equipment to sustain Ukraine’s existing air defense capabilities
• air defense generators
• counter-unmanned aerial systems
• four air surveillance radars
• 20 counter-mortar radars
• spare parts for counter-artillery radars
• Puma unmanned aerial systems
• precision-guided rockets
• secure communications equipment
• medical supplies
• funding for training, maintenance and sustainment.

Ukraine has been able to intercept Russian UAVs and missiles; however, having additional air defense will help combat efforts.