U.S. announces unprecedented security aid for Ukraine which includes 800 anti-aircraft systems
President Biden has announced that the United States would send $800 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total U.S. security assistance committed to Ukraine to $1 billion in aid announced in just the last week.
The development was reported shortly after Ukraine’s Prresident Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an impassioned virtual address to Congress in which he appealed for more help in staving off Russia’s invasion.
“This new package, on its own, is going to provide unprecedented assistance to Ukraine. It includes; 800 anti-aircraft systems to make sure the Ukrainian military can continue to stop the plans and helicopters that have been attacking their people and to defend their Ukrainian airspace,” Biden said.
The assistance package also includes 9,000 anti-armor systems. “These are portable, highly accurate shoulder-mounted missiles that the Ukrainian forces have been using with great effect to destroy invading tanks and armored vehicles.”
The aid will also include drones, which demonstrates the commitment of U.S. to sending most cutting-edge systems to Ukraine for its defense.
New security aid to Ukraine
The new $800 million assistance package includes:
- 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems
- 2,000 Javelin, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems
- 100 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems
- 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, and 400 shotguns
- Over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds
- 25,000 sets of body armor
- 25,000 helmets.
Previous security aid
In addition to the new $800 million assistance, the previously committed air to Ukraine by the United States includes:
- Over 600 Stinger anti-aircraft systems
- Approximately 2,600 Javelin anti-armor systems
- Five Mi-17 helicopters
- Three patrol boats
- Four counter-artillery and counter-unmanned aerial system tracking radars
- Four counter-mortar radar systems
- 200 grenade launchers and ammunition
- 200 shotguns and 200 machine guns
- Nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition and over 1 million grenade, mortar, and artillery rounds
- 70 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and other vehicles
- Secure communications, electronic warfare detection systems, body armor, helmets, and other tactical gear
- Military medical equipment to support treatment and combat evacuation
- Explosive ordnance disposal and demining equipment
- Satellite imagery and analysis capability.
