US $6Bln aid for Ukraine includes munitions for NASAMS, Patriot
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According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday, Long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are not very essential for Ukraine on their own, but are beneficial when combined with other capabilities.
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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a Pentagon press briefing on February 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP)
Additional ammunition for NASAMS, Patriot, and HIMARS systems are included in the US's recently announced $6 billion security package for Ukraine, according to a Pentagon announcement issued Friday.
In a release, the Pentagon explained that "The capabilities in this announcement include ... additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems; additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)."
Also included is equipment for integrating Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's air defense systems, as well as counter-UAS equipment and systems, laser-guided rocket munitions, multi-mission and counter-artillery radars, 155mm and 152mm artillery rounds, and precision aerial munitions.
Furthermore, the US will send Switchblade and Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems, as well as components to let Ukraine produce UAS and other capabilities, small weapons and extra small arms ammunition, and training, maintenance, and sustainment assistance.
According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday, Long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are not very essential for Ukraine on their own, but are beneficial when combined with other capabilities.
He explained during a briefing that "That capability alone is not so important; it’s the integration of that capability with the other kinds of things - like Storm Shadow and other things that other countries are providing - that really then gives them the capability to conduct a long-range fires campaign."
On Wednesday, a Defense Department spokeswoman informed Sputnik that the US secretly delivered ATACMS to Ukraine at the behest of US President Joe Biden.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also stated on Wednesday that the US is sure that Ukraine will only utilize ATACMS within its borders.
However, UK Chief of Defence Staff Adm. Tony Radakin allegedly stated this week that Ukraine may deploy ATACMS to attack within Russian territory, despite US pleas not to.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, providing ATACMS for Ukraine will only exacerbate the country's issues.
Kiev withdraws US-made Abrams after tank loses to Russian drones: AP
Ukraine has pulled back the US-supplied Abrams M1A1 after the long-awaited battle tanks have been losing the battle against Russian drones on the frontline, AP reported on Friday citing two US officials.
Last year, Washington agreed in January to send Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks, costing $10 million each, claiming that this would change the situation on the battlefield as Ukraine was preparing for the spring counteroffensive.
However, with Russia's improved use of drones and its introduction of more advanced ones, it became difficult for the Ukrainian armed forces to protect the battle tanks from their attacks.
So far, according to the report, Russia has destroyed five tanks out of the 31 tanks. Ukraine had also received German-made Leopard 1 tanks from several European countries, but they also failed to change the course of the battle, and many have since been destroyed by Russian forces.
Deploying drones into the battle means “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection,” a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.
