Two U.S. officials who were briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday that the U.S. is getting ready to send more than $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Long-range rockets, among other munitions and armaments, are scheduled to make their debut among this aid’s contents.
Officials said that the aid could be announced as soon as this week. They also said that it is likely to include support equipment for Patriot air defence systems, precision-guided munitions, and Javelin anti-tank weapons.
One of the officials said that a part of the package, which is expected to be worth $1.725 billion, would come from a fund called the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). This fund lets the administration of President Joe Biden buy weapons from the private sector instead of from U.S. weapons stocks.
With the USAI money, a new weapon called the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) made by Boeing Co. and with a range of 94 miles would be bought (150 km). Ukraine asked the US for the 185-mile (297-km) range ATACMS missile, but the US said no.
The GLSDB glide bomb’s longer range could let Ukraine hit targets that were previously out of reach and help it keep up its counterattacks by causing trouble for Russia further behind its lines.
In November, Reuters was the first to report on Boeing’s plan to send GLSDB to Ukraine. Back then, people thought that GLSDB might be in Ukraine by spring.
SAAB AB and Boeing work together to make the GLSDB. Uses standard U.S. armaments including the M26 rocket motor and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB).
According to information provided on the SAAB website, the GLSDB is directed by GPS, has the ability to avoid some types of electronic jamming, can be used in any weather, and may be used against armoured vehicles. The GBU-39, which would be the GLSDB’s bomb, has small, foldable wings that let it glide more than 100km if dropped from an aeroplane and hit targets as small as 3 feet (1 metre) in diameter.
One of the officials said that the USAI funds would also be used to pay for more parts of the HAWK air defence system, anti-drone systems, Radars for anti-artillery and air surveillance, communications equipment, PUMA drones, and spare parts for major systems such as Patriot and Bradley.
The official also said that another ally was giving a large amount of medical equipment, enough to stock three field hospitals.
The White House didn’t say anything. Aid packages can change in what’s in them and how big they are until the president signs them.
In addition to the USAI funds, the Presidential Drawdown Authority was expected to provide more than $400 million in aid. This authority lets the president take from U.S. stocks in an emergency.
Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs), guided multiple launch rocket systems (GMLRS), and ammunition were expected to be part of this help.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has taken a variety of measures. has sent about $27.2 billion worth of security aid to the country. A “special operation,” in the words of the Russian administration, was carried out during the invasion.
Read More: Russian Teen Jail Time For Social Media Post Criticizing Ukrainian War
Stay Connected!
