US boosts missile aid to Ukraine with $3.26 billion for patriot MSE
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The US has allocated $3.26 billion to replace at least 847 Patriot MSE missiles sent to Ukraine as part of military aid packages, according to Department of Defense budget reports.
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A Patriot missile mobile launcher is displayed outside the Fort Sill Army Post near Lawton, Okla., on March 21, 2023. (AP)
The United States has sent at least 847 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) MSE missiles worth $3.26 billion to Ukraine since providing a Patriot air defense system as part of a $1.85 billion aid package in December 2022, according to an analysis of US Department of Defense budget reports.
Following Russia's successful hypersonic missile test in late November, the Netherlands sent more Patriot batteries to Ukraine, with the US also supplying two additional batteries in later aid packages.
Despite these shipments, Ukraine still relies on advanced MSE interceptor missiles for effective air defense.
While the US has not specified the number of MSE missiles sent to Ukraine, an analysis of Department of Defense (DoD) budget reports provides some clues according to an RIA Novosti report.
The DoD’s financial office publishes "reprogramming actions" to maintain transparency on aid transfers.
The report also noted that in January 2023, a $956 million reprogramming action was reported to replenish missiles sent to Ukraine, but the report listed the funding as for a "classified program."
A subsequent April 2023 report revealed that $340 million was added to the US Army’s budget for MSE missiles, confirming the funds were intended to replace those sent to Ukraine. The total procurement budget of $1.993 billion for MSE missiles aligned with the earlier $956 million transfer, RIA Novosti confirmed.
US allocates $3.26 billion to replace MSE missiles sent to Ukraine
Subsequent DoD reports revealed more details on the number of MSE missiles sent to Ukraine, the RIA Novosti report shows.
The US Army’s fiscal year 2025 budget report showed that $1.44 billion in emergency funding was allocated in fiscal year 2023 to replace missiles transferred to Ukraine, raising the missile procurement budget to $2.47 billion.
With an average cost of $3.85 million per missile, this funding could buy at least 375 MSE missiles. Similarly, the fiscal year 2024 reprogramming action added $1.82 billion to the missile procurement budget, allowing for the purchase of 472 more missiles.
This brings the total additional funding for 2023-2024 to $3.26 billion, enough to buy 847 MSE missiles.
Originally, RIA Novosti reported, the US Army had planned to buy 252 missiles in 2023 and 230 in 2024. The Army’s goal is to procure 3,376 MSE missiles to equip its approved force.
Additionally, $199.27 million was allocated in fiscal year 2023 for replacing Patriot system components sent to Ukraine.
Read more: US to increase deployment of missile systems in Europe, Asia
