The U.S.’ new weapons aid package for Ukraine, detailed on Friday, includes plans to purchase $2.2 billion worth of Patriots and NASAMS interceptors to bolster Kyiv’s air defense capabilities.
Along with using Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds for the missile interceptors, the new package also includes providing $150 million worth of munitions and other capabilities to be pulled from existing Pentagon inventories.
Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. was set to announce $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine that would include interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems (Defense Daily, July 2).
“As previously announced, the Biden administration plans to accelerate delivery of these munitions by re-sequencing upcoming Foreign Military Sales deliveries for Ukraine. As a result, Ukraine will be provided with the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure against Russia’s aerial attacks,” the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
The White House recently confirmed it would prioritize sending air defense interceptors to Ukraine, including Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] PAC-3 missiles for Patriot and RTX’s [RTX] Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles for NASAMS, that were intended for delivery to other countries under FMS cases (Defense Daily, June 20).
The remaining $150 million portion of the new weapons aid, which is the Biden administration’s 60th package of equipment pulled from current inventories for Ukraine, includes missiles for HAWK air defense systems, additional ammunition for HIMARS launchers and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds.
Ukraine is also set to receive Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, 81mm mortar rounds, TOW missiles, small arms ammunition and grenades, demolitions equipment, tactical vehicles for moving equipment and tactical air navigation systems and aircraft support equipment, according to the Pentagon.