Ukraine’s air defence capabilities to get $2B boost from U.S. – National | 24CA News
The U.S. Department of Defense introduced an extra $2.1 billion in safety help for Ukraine on Friday, together with air protection and ammunition capabilities, amid indicators that Kyiv had begun its long-awaited counteroffensive towards Russia.
The bundle consists of extra munitions for Patriot air protection techniques, Raytheon RTX.N HAWK air protection techniques and missiles, 105mm and 203mm artillery rounds, small AeroVironment AVAV.O drones that may be launched by hand, laser-guided rocket system munitions and assist for coaching and upkeep, the Defense Department.
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds can be used to buy the weapons, permitting President Joe Biden’s administration to purchase weapons from trade, relatively than pull them from U.S. shares.
Delivery of the weapons and techniques is determined by their availability and manufacturing timeline.
The announcement got here as Ukraine’s long-anticipated counterattack gave the impression to be below method. Russia reported heavy preventing alongside the entrance in southern Ukraine, and bloggers described the primary sightings of German and U.S. tanks and armored autos.
The Pentagon has supplied greater than $7 billion in safety help for Ukraine below the USAI, in 5 separate tranches. In the fiscal yr that ended Sept. 30, 2022, Washington put $6.3 billion price of USAI funds to work shopping for for Ukraine’s protection.
Biden mentioned at a press convention with British Prime Minister Sunak on Thursday he was assured Washington might have the required funding to assist Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” regardless of skepticism from a couple of Republicans in Congress.
In an announcement, the Department of Defense mentioned the most recent announcement “illustrates the continued commitment to both Ukraine’s critical near-term capabilities as well as the enduring capacity of Ukraine’s Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term.”
In complete, the United States has dedicated as much as $40 billion in safety help to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
— Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Alistair Bell
© 2023 Thomson Reuters
