The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine worth USD 275 million. This is the 27th provision by Biden’s administration under the Presidential Drawdown authority – a program of taking weapons from the Pentagon’s stocks directly.
"This security assistance package will provide Ukraine with new capabilities to boost its air defenses," the notice says, though the type of the equipment sent this time is not disclosed and goes by the name "Counter air defense capability". Right away we should note that it’s neither about additional NASAMS nor Avenger systems or Hawk missiles since those are listed separately.
Read more: Ukraine Received Unexpected Air Defense Systems From Poland, Much Better Than the Soviet "Original"
According to the official release, this package includes:
- additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- 80,000 155mm artillery rounds;
- equipment for Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems supplied earlier;
- the "Counter air defense capability";
- High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) of the ambulance version with medical equipment;
- approximately 150 generators; and
- field equipment.
With that, the amount of 155mm ammunition used by a whole variety of NATO-standard artillery systems given to Ukraine by partners, has surpassed the 1 billion mark. No wonder, as Ukraine’s 155mm artillery park has grown from almost literally nothing to an entire "zoo" since the start of the russian invasion: American M777, Polish AHS Krab, German PzH 2000, French CAESAR and more.
And it will keep growing, as Germany has already agreed to produce RCH 155 systems for Ukraine as well, though it will take several years to deliver them.
The Humvee vehicles have found their way to the frontline, too. These armored mobility vehicles serve as good firing points for the armament that Ukrainian soldiers used to mount on ordinary pick-up, such as the American legendary TOW anti-tank missile.
The Ukrainians even designed and adopted a unique "wheeled workshop" for the repair of HMMWV out in the field. It was custom-made by the draft submitted by volunteers.
Read more: Armed Forces of Ukraine Has a Unique "Wheeled Workshop" for Repair of HMMWV and Other NATO Vehicles
