New US military aid to Ukraine includes 343 combat vehicles and 54 artillery systems.

On January 6, 2023, the United States Department of Defense announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $3.075 billion including different types of combat vehicles, artillery systems, ammunition, rockets, missiles, small weapons, and individual equipment. For the first time, the United States will provide Ukraine with Bradley M2A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles armed with anti-tank missiles and M109 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzers.
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With this new military aid package for Ukraine, the United States will supply a wide range of combat vehicles, artillery systems, rockets and missiles.

In total, the United States has committed more than $24.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $27 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and more than $24.2 billion since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24, 2022.

For the first time, the United States will deliver Bradley M2A2 IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) armed with weapons able to counter Russian tanks. The Bradley vehicles will further enhance Ukraine's ability to conduct complex maneuvers in almost all weather conditions and terrain, especially in the south and the east of the country.

The Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles and artillery systems will complement the recent commitment of combat vehicles to Ukraine by Germany and France. Germany will deliver Marder tracked armored IFVs while France will deliver Ukraine AMX-10RC, 6x6 reconnaissance anti-tank armored vehicles.

Artillery remains a crucial capability for the Ukrainians and the PDA will provide 18 self-propelled 155 mm Paladin howitzers, 36 105 mm towed howitzers, and thousands of rounds to supply both systems.

The United States will also supply Ukraine with M109 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzers, which will provide greater protection and maneuverability than the towed howitzers previously provided and will complement self-propelled howitzers already provided by allies. The U.S. is also providing an additional 36 105-millimeter towed howitzers to strengthen Ukraine's layered approach to fires as well as 105-millimeter rounds.

The U.S. DoD (Department of Defense) also welcomes Germany's commitment to join the United States in supporting Ukraine's urgent requirement for air defense capabilities by also supplying one Patriot air defense missile battery to Ukraine.

The new U.S. military aid package for Ukraine includes:

- 50 Bradley M2A2 tracked armored IFVs and 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition,
- 100 M113 tracked APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) vehicles,
- 55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs),
- 138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs),
- 18 M109 Paladin 155mm, self-propelled Howitzers and 18 ammunition support vehicle
- 70,000 155mm artillery rounds;
- 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds;
- 1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems;
- 36 105mm towed Howitzers and 95,000 105mm artillery rounds;
- 10,000 120mm mortar rounds;
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
- RIM-7 missiles for air defense;
- 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets;
- Approximately 2,000 anti-armor rockets;
- Sniper rifles, machine guns, and ammunition for grenade launchers and small arms;
- Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
- Night vision devices and optics;
- Spare parts and other field equipment.

The M109A6 Paladin is a 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Wikimedia).

The M109A6 Paladin is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) based on a tracked armored chassis developed by the ground system division of United Defense LP and now manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments at the Paladin Production Operation center at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

The PIM M109A6 Paladin is armed with a 39-caliber 155mm M284 cannon, which is fitted with an M182A1 gun mount and has a firing range of 24 km using unassisted rounds or 30 km using assisted rounds. The vehicle carries a total of 39 rounds. It can also fire Excalibur GPS-guided artillery ammunition with a maximum firing range of 40 km.

The Bradley M2A2 is tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle armed with one 25mm automatic cannon and two TOW 2 anti-tank missile launchers. (Picture source Wikimedia)

The M2A2 Bradley is an an AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) that was introduced in the U.S. Army in 1988. It is an improved version of the standard vehicle Bradley M2A1.

The M2A2 Bradley has exactly the same armament as the previous version of the Bradley M2A1. The M2A2 Bradley is armed with an ATK Gun Systems Company M242 25 mm Bushmaster Chain Gun with a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament. A total of eight smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the forward part of the turret, four to each side of the main armament. The vehicle is also armed with two anti-tank missile launchers mounted to the left side of the turret which are able to fire TOW 2 missiles.