The US will ship Ukraine one other $1.1 billion in navy materiel because the japanese European nation enters its eighth month of war with Russia, the Pentagon introduced Wednesday.
The bundle will embrace 18 additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS; 150 Humvees; 150 tactical automobiles to tow weapons; 40 vans and 80 trailers for shifting heavy gear; two radars for aerial drones; 20 multi-mission radars; safe communications and surveillance methods; explosive ordnance disposal gear and physique armor, in keeping with the Protection Division.
A number of the cash shall be used to assist “coaching, upkeep and sustainment,” in keeping with the Pentagon. It is going to additionally embrace an undisclosed variety of counter-drone methods.
The announcement got here at some point after US officers confirmed Russia has begun utilizing Iran-provided drones to assault and surveil Ukrainian troops.
“When it comes to their effectiveness, I don’t need to present a battle harm evaluation right here from the rostrum or get into particular intelligence apart from to say we’ve seen [Russia] make use of [Iranian drones],” Pentagon spokesman Air Drive Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder stated Tuesday. “We’ve additionally seen stories of the Ukrainians taking pictures down a few of these drones … [and] we assess that these are credible.”
The gadgets will come via the Ukraine Safety Help Initiative, which permits the US to buy and procure weapons and different navy capabilities for Ukraine moderately than sending alongside gadgets from the Pentagon’s personal shares.
The majority of the help shall be delivered in six months to 2 years as a result of it should first be procured, in keeping with a senior protection official.
“This USAI bundle underscores the US dedication to supporting Ukraine over the long run,” the official stated Wednesday. “It represents a multi-year funding in essential capabilities to construct the enduring energy of Ukraine’s armed forces because it continues to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty within the face of Russian aggression.”
It stays unclear how lengthy the conflict will proceed. Russian President Vladimir Putin final week directed the mobilization of 300,000 further reservists to affix the struggle. A senior US navy official in August estimated Russia had suffered as many as 80,000 casualties because the begin of the conflict Feb. 24.
“Mobilization signifies that Russia continues to consider that it could actually win the lengthy sport by outlasting the Ukrainians and worldwide assist,” the official stated. “That is yet one more Russian miscalculation … the US together with the worldwide neighborhood will proceed to assist the Ukrainian folks of their struggle to defend our nation.”
The US has despatched Ukraine about $19 billion in navy help since President Biden took workplace final 12 months – about $16.2 billion of which has been dispatched since Russia invaded Ukraine.
