The Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package to reaffirm U.S. firm support for Ukraine, including strengthening its air defenses and meeting its artillery needs. This package, totaling up to $1.2 billion, is being provided by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
This USAI package underscores the continued US commitment to meeting Ukraine’s most pressing needs by compromising critical shortterm capabilities such as air defense systems and ammunition, while strengthening the ability of Ukrainian forces to defend their territory and deter longterm Russian aggression. This includes providing additional 155mm artillery pieces and maintenance support to allow Ukraine to better maintain its available systems and equipment.
Unlike the Presidential Withdrawal Authority (PDA), which the Department of Defense continued to use to move Department of Defense equipment to Ukraine at an historic pace, USAI is the agency under which the United States acquires resources from industry or partners. This announcement marks the beginning of a procurement process to provide additional priority resources to Ukraine.
Features in this pack include:
- Additional air defense systems and ammunition;
- Equipment to integrate Western launchers, missiles and air defense radars into Ukraine’s air defense systems;
- ammunition for unmanned aerial systems;
- 155 mm artillery shells;
- commercial satellite imagery services;
- Assistance with training, maintenance and support activities.
The United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with resources to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longerterm security assistance needs.
SOURCE: US Department of Defense