A soldier conducts registration and calibration of the M777A2 Howitzer Weapon System in Syria, Sept. 30, 2021.
U.S. Army Spc. Isaiah Scott | US Army
WASHINGTON — From heavy artillery to tactical drones to armored vehicles, the US has pledged $5.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in late February.
The latest $1 billion aid package, the 12th tranche of aid, comes as Russian forces step up their fight in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The Pentagon said the latest weapons tranche announced Wednesday is worth $350 million. It includes 18 155mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition, 18 tactical vehicles for towing 155mm howitzers, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or HMARS, and four tactical vehicles for recovering equipment and spare parts.
The Pentagon will also provide two Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems, thousands of secure radios and night vision and thermal imaging devices, and funds for training and maintenance support. This aid has a total value of US$650 million.
Here’s a look at the weapons the US has deployed to combat so far.
heavy artillery
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 65th Field Artillery Brigade fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during a joint live-fire exercise with the Kuwait Land Forces near Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Jan. 8, 2019.
Courtesy: US Department of Defense
Heavy artillery platforms are at the top of the Ukrainian military’s wish list. To date, the Pentagon has transferred 126 155mm howitzer artillery systems held by the US Army and US Marine Corps to Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian troops must train alongside US forces before operating the howitzers. The Pentagon has previously said the training will take place at a location outside of Ukraine but close to the country.
Along with the howitzers, the US also sent approximately 260,000 artillery shells.
The Pentagon has also committed the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HMARS, manufactured by defense giant Lockheed Martin. The HMARS were designed to launch a variety of missiles from a mobile 5-ton truck.
drones
The US has also arrested at least 700 Switchblade drones manufactured by US-based company AeroVironment. There are two variants of the weapon, Switchblade 300 and 600. It was not immediately clear which version the US deployed in Ukraine.
Each Switchblade is designed as a disposable or “kamikaze” drone.
The 300 variant was designed to hit small targets. It fits in a backpack, weighs just over 5 pounds, and has a range of 10 miles. The 600 version of the gun was designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles. It weighs just over 120 pounds and has a range of over 40 miles.
AeroVironment Switchblade 600 drone
Courtesy: AeroVironment
The Pentagon has also deployed the Puma, or UAS, as well as 121 tactical unmanned air systems called “Phoenix Ghost” drones.
In April, then-Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said these drones were “rapidly developed by the Air Force in response specifically to Ukrainian requirements.”
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“It offers similar capabilities to the Switchblade series unmanned systems, similar capabilities but not exactly. There are other differences in skill sets for the Phoenix Ghosts, but I just won’t be able to elaborate on those possibilities,” Kirby said during a press conference on April 21.
The drones are manufactured by Aevex Aerospace in Solana Beach, California and are currently in the US Air Force arsenal. Once the drones are in the region, US troops will train Ukrainian forces on how to operate them.
Armored and tactical vehicles
US Army Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment engage a target of an M113A2 armored vehicle January 14, 2013 during squad maneuver training at Grafenwoehr Training Area.
US Army Staff Sergeant Pablo Piedra | US Army
The US has provided the Ukrainian Armed Forces with hundreds of armored vehicles, including 200 M113 armored vehicles and hundreds of multi-purpose wheeled armored highly mobile vehicles.
The Pentagon has also deployed more than 100 tactical vehicles to tow US Army and US Marine Corps 155mm howitzers across the battlefield. The military has also dispatched nearly 20 other tactical vehicles that are being used to recover equipment.
Airplanes and Radar
Russian military helicopters Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 fly over the northeast Syrian city of al-Malikiyahat on the border with Turkey, June 3, 2020.
Delil Souleiman | AFP | Getty Images
The US has agreed to send 20 Russian Mi-17 military helicopters. Some of them were supposed to join the Afghan military fleet before the Taliban took over the country.
The Mi-17 are personnel transport helicopters that can be armed with cannons and missiles to perform attack or close air support roles.
The US military has also deployed 22 of the AN/TPQ-36 highly mobile anti-artillery radars. This radar system is capable of locating mortars, artillery and missiles at close range. The Pentagon has also deployed four counter-mortar radars.
Four Raytheon AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air surveillance radars have also joined the fight in Ukraine. The Sentinel system is designed to alert front-line air defense weapons when it catches a glimpse of enemy aircraft, helicopters, drones, or missiles. The US has also included electronic jamming devices.
Missiles and other anti-tank systems
A US infantryman during a live-fire combined arms exercise at Al-Ghalail Range in Qatar on November 14, 2018.
Spc. Jovi Prevot | US Army
Portable Javelin anti-tank weapons are also high on the Ukrainian military’s list. To date, the US has handed over more than 6,500 Javelins, co-produced by defense giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to the Ukrainian government.
In addition, the US has allocated more than 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine. It has also sent more than 20,000 man-portable anti-tank systems and other laser-guided missile systems.
weapons and ammunition
U.S. Army Pvt. Adam Eggers fires his M4 rifle at a shooting range at Camp Blessing in Kunar province, Afghanistan July 27, 2009.
U.S. Army Spc. Evan Marcy | US Army
The Pentagon transferred more than 7,000 different types of small arms and 50 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
The US also provided more than 1 million shells, mortars and artillery shells.
protective gear
Soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment sort and pack some of the excess 84,000 ballistic helmets to be shipped to armed forces and rescue workers in Ukraine March 31, 2022 in Donnington, England.
Christopher Furlong | News from Getty Images | Getty Images
The US has so far sent more than 75,000 sets of body armor and helmets to the Ukrainian armed forces, according to the Pentagon.
In addition, the US has provided Ukrainian troops with thousands of night vision goggles, thermal imaging systems and other forms of militarized optics.
The US has also taken on medical supplies and equipment used to support combat evacuations. In addition, hundreds of pieces of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective equipment have also left US stockpiles for Ukraine.