The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new $325 million arms package for Ukraine that includes Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles and ammunition for various weapons systems.
US officials told Voice of America that the administration was planning to send more Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles to replace ones that have been damaged or destroyed during Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations.
CNN reported on Monday that, according to open-source intelligence, Ukraine has lost at least 16 US-made Bradley fighting vehicles in the past several days. Russia has said it captured several Bradleys and German-made Leopard tanks.
The new $325 million weapons package for Ukraine is being provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the US to send arms directly from US military stockpile. The funds are being drawn from spending that has already been authorized for the war, which at this point totals $113 billion.
According to the Pentagon, the arms package includes the following:
- Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)
- Stinger anti-aircraft systems
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds
- 15 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles
- 10 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers
- Javelin anti-armor systems
- Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles
- AT-4 anti-armor systems
- Over 22 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades
- Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing
- Tactical secure communications support equipment
- Spare parts and other field equipment
The arms package marks the 40th drawdown from US military stockpiles for Ukraine’s war effort. According to a fact sheet released by the Pentagon, the US has pledged over $40 billion in military equipment for Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion last year.
Source: AntiWar.
