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US to Double the Number of HIMARS for Ukraine in the New $1 Billion Military Aid Package

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As soon as produced, 18 units of M142 HIMARS will go to Ukraine / Photo credit: Lockheed Martin
As soon as produced, 18 units of M142 HIMARS will go to Ukraine / Photo credit: Lockheed Martin

Ukraine will receive more HIMARS and many more Humvees for its needs, in the face of russia escalating the war with the decision on mobilization

The United States has committed 18 more M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 150 Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) in the new security assistance package announced on September 24.

It should be noted right away that this aid is coming under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program which means the equipment will go to Ukraine as soon as it is manufactured, not from the U.S. Army stocks. Therefore the arrival of the rocket systems and other items is not expected in the short term whatsoever.

Read more: ​The U.S. Plans Double or Triple HIMARS, GMLRS, ATGM and MPADS Production in a Year

Still, the commitment in fact aims to increase the number of HIMARS rocket systems in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine by more than twice: according to the Pentagon, Ukraine currently has 16 HIMARS, and so in total Ukraine will have 34 launchers of this exact type. Here we should add six M270 systems (three delivered and three committed) and three MARS II systems, which both are 12-missile tracked analogs of the HIMARS.

Additional ammunition for HIMARS provided in the package is no less important than the launchers / Photo credit: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

And we should not also forget about the Humvees. Armored mobility vehicles have proven effective during Ukraine's counteroffensive operation, enabling Ukrainian forces to outmaneuver russians on the battlefield. By the way, Ukrainian paratroopers especially praised Australian Bushmaster vehicles.

The United States has committed 150 more units of HMMWV, which adds to the "hundreds of Humvees" provided earlier; approx. 150 Kirpi vehicles committed by Turkiye; more than 50 Bushmasters; around 80 British tactical mobility vehicles (Wolfhound, Mastiff, Husky), and many others.

Humvee vehicles from one of the previous shipments of U.S. security aid for Ukraine / Photo credit U.S. Embassy

The full list of military assistance pledged in the new US package is as follows:

  • 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and associated ammunition;
  • 150 Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);
  • 150 Tactical Vehicles to tow weapons;
  • 40 trucks and 80 trailers to transport heavy equipment;
  • Two radars for Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • 20 multi-mission radars;
  • Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
  • Tactical secure communications systems, surveillance systems, and optics;
  • Explosive ordnance disposal equipment;
  • Body armor and other field equipment;
  • Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
Read more: The U.S. Army Tests How Quickly They Can Disperse HIMARS in the East in the Event of russia’s Attack on the Baltic States