The High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, known as HIMARS, will be part of a new $625 million package of aid expected to be announced on Tuesday, according to U.S. officials.
The US military aid package for Ukraine may also include four HIMARS, ammunition, mines, and anti-mine devices, Interfax-Ukraine reports citing Reuters.
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"The Biden administration's next security assistance package for Ukraine is expected to include four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System [HIMARS] launchers, munitions, mines and mine-resistant vehicles, two sources briefed on the $625 million package told Reuters on Monday," according to a report, published on the website.
The package, expected to be announced as soon as Tuesday, "is the first aid package since Russia's most recent declared annexation of Ukrainian territory and the second Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) since Ukraine made large battlefield gains in mid-September."
This is the first package of the U.S. government's 2023 fiscal year, which is currently functioning under a stopgap funding measure and allows President Joe Biden to draw down up to $3.7 billion in surplus weapons for transfer to Ukraine through mid-December,
the Voice of America reports.
Last week, the United States unveiled a $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine that included 18 HIMARS launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of counter drone systems and radar systems.
But last week's aid package was funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning the government has to procure the weapons from industry, rather than pulling them from existing U.S. weapons stocks.
Made by Lockheed Martin, the HIMARS launchers' accuracy and longer range have allowed Ukraine to reduce Russia's artillery advantage.
The U.S. has thus far pledged 16 HIMARS launchers to Ukraine using PDA.
HIMARS - the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System - is a missile launcher mounted on a five-tonne truck which can fire six guided missiles in quick succession.
Specifications of the HIMARS missile system
The missiles supplied to Ukraine have a range of up to 50 miles (80 km), which is over twice the range of the howitzer guns which the US has previously given to Ukraine.
HIMARS can also fire a single Army Tactical Missile System missile, which has a range of 186 miles (300 km). However, the US isn't supplying Ukraine with these.
As Defense Express reported, Ukraine Offers the U.S. Control Over the Targeting to Receive 300-km Range Missiles.
Read more: Rare Footage of HIMARS work in Ukraine Released: In Some Areas, Up to 70 % Fire Damage is Provided by the American MLR System
