AUGUST 14, 2023 – The Defense Department announced an additional security assistance package valued at up to $200 million to help Ukraine counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.
The package includes critical munitions for U.S.-provided Patriot air defense systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, among other items.
The items are being provisioned as part of the $6.2 billion in presidential drawdown authority restored in June following a reevaluation of the total value of items already committed to Ukraine.
The latest round of assistance marks the 44th drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
The package underscores the United States’ continued commitment to providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its territory.
“Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said today in a statement. “Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The Biden administration has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
That assistance has included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and more than 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other items.
The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.
In response to the effort to assist Ukraine, the U.S. has ramped up production of key artillery rounds used most by Ukraine in support of its counteroffensive operations and in defending its territory against the invading Russian forces.
Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said last week that the U.S. is currently producing new artillery rounds at a rate of 24,000 per month and is on track to produce in excess of 80,000 rounds per month over the following year.
He said the DOD remains committed to arming Ukraine as the country defends itself against Russia’s unprovoked invasion while at the same time maintaining U.S. military readiness.
“The U.S. Army is committed to and will succeed at maintaining our stocks sufficient for training and readiness of the U.S. Army, while also supporting our ally, Ukraine, with what they need, working as part of an international team to make sure that happens,” Bush said.
He added that, throughout the war, U.S. equipment has remained highly effective in combat.
“That’s the result of decades of work by thousands of people to make sure our equipment is tested well and also that our industry partners produce it, critically, at a high level of quality,” Bush said. “Lots of countries can produce. The United States produces the best in terms of quality. I think we are seeing that, and I think that speaks well of our industry partners.”
The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $200 million, include:
- Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems;
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- Mine clearing equipment and systems;
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
- 120mm tank ammunition;
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
- Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets;
- 37 tactical vehicles to tow and haul equipment;
- 58 water trailers;
- Over 12 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
- Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and
- Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.
By Joseph Clark , DOD News