The Biden Administration has unveiled its 44th drawdown of equipment for Ukraine, providing critical security assistance valued at up to $200 million to aid in their defense against Russia.
The new military aid package for Ukraine includes additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
Also included in the package are mine clearing equipment, artillery rounds of various calibers, tank ammunition, anti-armor systems such as Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin missiles, tactical vehicles, water trailers, small arms ammunition, grenades, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, and spare parts along with maintenance and field equipment.
The package is coming from a surplus of funds after the Pentagon overestimated the value of weapons dispatched to Ukraine over the past two years by $6.2 billion, resulting in a surplus intended for new security packages.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated that a thorough review uncovered an accounting error, as the military services used replacement costs instead of the equipment’s book value from Pentagon stocks sent to Ukraine. The final calculations indicated a $3.6 billion mistake in the current fiscal year and a $2.6 billion error in the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2022.
Therefore, with these surplus funds at its disposal, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has announced an additional security assistance package, valued at up to $200 million, aimed at supporting Ukraine’s endeavors to counter Russia’s ongoing aggressive actions.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the Biden administration has allocated over $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. This support encompasses more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and over 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other supplies.
The aid has been sourced through existing US stock drawdowns and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, allowing the US to acquire capabilities from industry and partners.
In response, the US has increased the production of essential artillery rounds, vital for Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts and territorial defense against the invading Russian forces.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology, Douglas R. Bush, stated that the US is currently producing new artillery rounds at a monthly rate of 24,000, with plans to exceed 80,000 rounds per month in the coming year.
“The US Army is committed to and will succeed at maintaining our stocks sufficient for training and readiness of the US Army, while also supporting our ally, Ukraine, with what they need, working as part of an international team to make sure that happens,” Bush said.
This recent assistance installment signifies the 44th instance of equipment drawdown from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The package “reaffirms the United States’ enduring dedication to furnishing Ukraine with the necessary capabilities for defending its territory.”
“Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a statement. “Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
