Missiles for the HAWK air protection system, together with 4 Avenger air protection techniques and Stinger missiles are headed to Ukraine as a part of a presidential drawdown authority safety help bundle value as much as $400 million, the Protection Division introduced right now.
On account of Russia’s persevering with air assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure, extra air protection capabilities are crucial, mentioned Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh throughout a briefing right now.
“The HAWK missiles, which might be refurbished utilizing Ukraine Safety Help Initiative funds, will complement Spain’s latest dedication of HAWK launchers to assist Ukraine meet this risk,” she mentioned. “The Avenger short-range air protection techniques can even present Ukraine with functionality to guard Ukrainian troops and significant infrastructure in opposition to unmanned aerial techniques and helicopters.”
As a part of this drawdown, Singh mentioned, the U.S. will present Ukraine with an unspecified variety of HAWK missiles from its personal stock, however that these missiles would first must be refurbished. That refurbishment might be executed utilizing funds from the Ukraine Safety Help Initiative. As soon as these missiles are refurbished, they’ll then be paired with HAWK system launchers which were supplied by Spain.
The Avenger air protection techniques, which use Stinger missiles, is a functionality the U.S. has not beforehand supplied to the Ukrainians.
“These are cellular, short-range air protection techniques that may … shield in opposition to cruise missiles, helicopters [and] unmanned aerial techniques,” she mentioned. “They’re shorter in vary, however with a few of the extra capabilities that we and Spain and others have supplied, just like the HAWK missiles. That is one thing [that] I feel suits in nicely with a few of the capabilities that [the Ukrainians] are already utilizing on the battlefield.”
The addition of the Avenger system to what the U.S. is offering to Ukraine comes after session with the Ukrainians on what they want of their combat in opposition to the Russians, Singh mentioned.
“We talk about with them what they want on this combat. We assess what we are able to present and what makes probably the most sense. This was a request that fulfilled a necessity … that they needed,” she mentioned. “I feel that is an air protection system that is going to enhance the opposite air protection techniques that not simply the U.S. has supplied, however different international locations as nicely.”
The full checklist of kit within the newest safety help bundle additionally consists of:
- Ammunition for the Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System
- 21,000 155 mm artillery rounds
- 500 precision-guided 155 mm artillery rounds
- 10,000 120 mm mortar rounds
- 100 Excessive Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Autos, or Humvees
- 400 grenade launchers
- Small arms, optics and greater than 20,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
- Demolition gear for impediment clearing
- Chilly climate protecting gear
Singh additionally informed reporters that subsequent week, Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III will host the seventh assembly of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group.
“This assembly might be hosted just about, right here on the Pentagon, and can enable for the secretary and ministers of protection from practically 50 international locations to debate efforts to produce Ukraine with the means to defend its sovereignty from additional Russian aggression,” Singh mentioned.
Because the starting of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the US has dedicated greater than $18.6 billion in safety help.
