The United States is to announce a new pledge of $1.3 billion in military aid to Kiev in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two US officials said.
The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, drone combat systems, explosive drones and munitions, one of the US officials said.
The United States is using resources in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allows US President Joe Biden’s administration to buy weapons from industry rather than drawing from US stockpiles of weapons.
Among the systems and munitions that the United States intends to buy for Kiev are air defenses made by L3Harris Technologies, according to one of the sources.
Also included are two different types of loafing ammunition, the Phoenix Ghost drone manufactured by AVVEX, a privately held California company, and the Switchblade, manufactured by AeroVironment Inc..
In addition, a person briefed on the matter said that Ukraine will receive a significant number of Australian-made combat drone systems DroneShield along with radars, sensors and analysis systems.
The US Department of Defense’s upcoming announcement on security assistance to Ukraine comes alongside a virtual meeting Tuesday of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a gathering of allies assisting Kiev as Ukraine embarks on its counteroffensive in the face of the invading Russian forces.
Delivery of weapons and systems depends on their availability and production schedule. The content and value can also change up until the announcement.
The Pentagon provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine under USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. The expected package would be the eighth.
((Editorial Translation São Paulo)) REUTERS TR
Source: Terra
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