Ukraine was already stocking up on US-made Javelins before Russia invaded. Here, a group of Ukrainian servicemen pick up a Javelin shipment in early February as Russia deploys troops to the border with Ukraine.
Sergey Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced a $1 billion security aid package for Ukraine on Monday, the largest arms donation since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in late February.
The upcoming military aid package, the 18th such tranche, brings the U.S. commitment to about $9.8 billion and includes ammunition for long-range weapons and armored medical vehicles.
The package consists of additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Missile Systems or HIMARS, 75,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition, 20,120 mm mortar systems and 20,000 rounds of 120 mm mortar ammunition, as well as ammunition for national advanced surface-to-air missile systems or NASAMS.
HIMARS, manufactured by defense giant Lockheed Martin, are designed to launch a variety of missiles from a mobile 5-tonne truck and are high on Ukrainian wish lists. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said the U.S. is not sending HIMARS in this latest package, only ammunition for the system. Cal declined to say how many cartridges will be in the next shipment.
To date, the US has provided 16 HIMARS to Ukraine.
The Pentagon will also send 1,000 Javelins, hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems, 50 armored medical vehicles, anti-personnel munitions, explosives, demolition munitions and demolition equipment.
The largest aid package to date for Ukraine was announced on June 15, but that installment was a mix of presidential withdrawal powers and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Monday’s package, which is the only presidential withdrawal authorization, means the weapons come directly from US stockpiles.
“We will continue to consult closely with Ukraine and augment additional available systems and capabilities carefully calibrated to make a difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s eventual position at the negotiating table,” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement.
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