US to provide NASAMS and HIMARS munitions to Ukraine in more than $400 million package

Europe, News, US November 6, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Department of Defense has announced the latest military assistance package for Ukraine, including munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as laser-guided munitions to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems.

The latest military package is aimed at meeting Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs and includes $300 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds to support Ukraine’s air defenses over the long term.

The defense package also includes the drawdown of security assistance from the U.S. Department of Defense inventories valued at up to $125 million “to meet Ukraine’s immediate battlefield needs,” the DoD statement highlighted.

The Pentagon statement read: “The United States remains committed to working with some 50 Allies and partners who are providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter Russian aggression well into the future.”

The statement underscored that the U.S. and its partners have “stepped up to provide approximately $35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine,” adding that “Under the leadership of the United States, this global coalition has enabled Ukraine’s courageous forces to successfully defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and take back more than half of the territory seized by Russian invaders.”

*^{The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS). (Image Credit: Kongsberg)}*

The latest DoD package includes:

Additional munitions for NASAMS;
Additional ammunition for HIMARS;
155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
Tube-launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
More than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades;
Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing;
M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
12 trucks to transport heavy equipment;
Cold weather gear; and
Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

The U.S. has been providing Ukraine with military equipment to counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, this includes air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to help Kviv strengthen its defenses.

Under the USAI authority, the United States procure military capabilities from industry for Ukraine. The latest announcement of the package is aimed at providing additional capabilities to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

^{Ukrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered by plane as part of the U.S. military support package for Ukraine, at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 10, 2022. (Image Credit: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko)}

According to the Pentagon statement, “The Administration continues to call on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of choice.”

“This security assistance package signals the United States’ continued commitment to support the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression,” the Department of Defense statement added.