US has no delivery timeline for NASAMS to Ukraine
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The United States further stall its pledged military assistance for Ukraine, the NASAMS package, in particular.
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NASAMS Air Defence System
The Pentagon cannot yet name the exact timing of the delivery of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said on Tuesday.
"I don't have a delivery time [of NASAMS]. As part of the USAI [Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative] process, [we are] working with industry to have them manufacture that capability and provide it to Ukraine," he told a press briefing.
A senior defense official said Monday that the United States had moved forward to procure for Ukraine air defense systems, including NASAMS.
Kiev has been expecting to receive six NASAMS at the minimum as part of a $2.98 billion pledged assistance package that will allow Ukraine to acquire, in addition to the aforementioned systems, air defense systems, artillery systems, and munitions, drones, and other equipment.
However, the United States does not have NASAMS in stock that are immediately available to give to Ukraine.
The military aid package, according to a Bloomberg report which cited 2 US officials, includes six NASAMS air defense systems as well as "Vampire" drone systems.
Earlier in July, Biden had promised Ukraine two NASAMS and in early August the US Department of Defense said that they will be delivered within two to three months.
Furthermore, the package also includes funding for training, preservation, and sustainment of the provided equipment, as well as 245,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, 65,000 rounds of 120mm mortar projectiles, Puma unmanned aerial systems, support equipment for Scan Eagle systems, and laser-guided rocket systems.
Despite Washington providing information to Kiev about Russian command posts, ammunition depots, and other potential targets, Ukrainian officials had been hesitant to disclose operational plans to their US counterparts earlier in the conflict, fearing that doing so "could highlight weaknesses and discourage continued American support," based on the information reported by The New York Times.
