The Biden administration announced on Wednesday a new $300 million weapons package for Ukraine that includes Stinger anti-aircraft systems and ammunition for Patriot air defenses and the HIMARS rocket systems.
The arms are being sent to Ukraine using the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the US to ship weapons directly from Pentagon stockpiles. The funds for the equipment are being drawn from what Congress has already authorized for spending on the war, which at this point totals $113 billion.
The most recent Ukraine aid bill was worth $45 billion and passed through Congress in December. The money is expected to run out by the end of the summer, meaning the White House could ask Congress to authorize more soon, although the Pentagon recently claimed an “error” overvalued some arms it sent to Ukraine, potentially freeing up more funds.
According to the Pentagon, the new $300 million aid package includes the following:
- Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems
- AIM-7 missiles for air defense
- Avenger air defense systems
- Stinger anti-aircraft systems
- Additional ammunition for HIMARS
- 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds
- 105mm tank ammunition
- Precision aerial munitions
- Zuni aircraft rockets
- Munitions for Unmanned Aerial Systems
- AT-4 anti-armor systems
- Over 30 million rounds of small arms ammunition
- Mine clearing equipment and systems
- Demolition munitions for obstacle clearing
- Night vision devices
- Spare parts, generators, and other field equipment
The Pentagon also released a fact sheet on Wednesday detailing the weapons it has sent to Ukraine. So far, the US has publicly pledged over $37.6 billion in military equipment for Kyiv since Russia launched its invasion last year.
Source: AntiWar.
