US Department of Defense announces additional $200M in Security Assistance for Ukraine.

On August 14, the U.S. Defense Department announced an additional security assistance package valued at up to $200 million to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression. As commented by Joseph Clark, U.S. DoD News, the package includes critical munitions for U.S.-provided Patriot air defense systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, among other items. The items are being provisioned as part of the $6.2 billion in presidential drawdown authority restored in June following a reevaluation of the total value of items already committed to Ukraine.
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Weapons bound for Ukraine are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 19, 2022 (Picture source: Air Force Senior Airman Cydney Lee)

The latest round of assistance marks the 44th drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. The package underscores the United States' continued commitment to providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend its territory: "Russia started this war and could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks," Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said today in a statement. "Until it does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes."

The Biden administration has committed more than $43 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022. That assistance has included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, more than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, and more than 2 million 155-mm artillery rounds, among other items. The assistance has been provisioned through drawdowns of existing U.S. stocks and through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the authority under which the U.S. procures capabilities from industry and partners.

In response to the effort to assist Ukraine, the U.S. has ramped up production of key artillery rounds used most by Ukraine in support of its counteroffensive operations and in defending its territory against the invading Russian forces.

Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said last week that the U.S. is currently producing new artillery rounds at a rate of 24,000 per month and is on track to produce in excess of 80,000 rounds per month over the following year. He said the DoD remains committed to arming Ukraine as the country defends itself against Russia's unprovoked invasion while at the same time maintaining U.S. military readiness: "The U.S. Army is committed to and will succeed at maintaining our stocks sufficient for training and readiness of the U.S. Army, while also supporting our ally, Ukraine, with what they need, working as part of an international team to make sure that happens". He added that, throughout the war, U.S. equipment has remained highly effective in combat.

"That's the result of decades of work by thousands of people to make sure our equipment is tested well and also that our industry partners produce it, critically, at a high level of quality," Bush said. "Lots of countries can produce. The United States produces the best in terms of quality. I think we are seeing that, and I think that speaks well of our industry partners."

Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine August 14, 2023

The United States has committed more than $43.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including more than $43 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24, 2022.

Air Defense

• One Patriot air defense battery and munitions; • 12 National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions; • HAWK air defense systems and munitions; • AIM-7/RIM-7 missiles for air defense; • More than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; • Avenger air defense systems; • VAMPIRE counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) and munitions; • C-UAS gun trucks and ammunition; • Mobile c-UAS laser-guided rocket systems; • Other c-UAS equipment; • Anti-aircraft guns and ammunition; • Equipment to integrate Western launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s systems; • Equipment to sustain Ukraine’s existing air defense capabilities; and • 21 air surveillance radars.

Fires

• 38 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition; • Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb launchers and guided rockets; • 198 155mm Howitzers and more than 2,000,000 155mm artillery rounds; • More than 7,000 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds; • More than 20,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems; • 72 105mm Howitzers and more than 500,000 105mm artillery rounds; • 10,000 203mm artillery rounds; • More than 200,000 152mm artillery rounds; • Approximately 40,000 130mm artillery rounds; • 40,000 122mm artillery rounds; • 60,000 122mm GRAD rockets; • 47 120mm mortar systems; • 10 82mm mortar systems; • 67 81mm mortar systems; • 58 60mm mortar systems; • More than 400,000 mortar rounds; • More than 70 counter-artillery and counter-mortar radars; and • 20 multi-mission radars.

Ground Maneuver

• 31 Abrams tanks; • 45 T-72B tanks; • 186 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles; • Four Bradley Fire Support Team vehicles; • 189 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; • 300 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers; • 250 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles; • More than 500 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs); • More than 2,000 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs); • More than 100 light tactical vehicles; • 200 armored medical treatment vehicles; • 68 trucks and 124 trailers to transport heavy equipment; • More than 600 tactical vehicles to tow and haul equipment; • 131 tactical vehicles to recover equipment; • 10 command post vehicles; • 30 ammunition support vehicles; • 18 armored bridging systems; • Eight logistics support vehicles and equipment; • 239 fuel tankers and 105 fuel trailers; • 58 water trailers; • Six armored utility trucks; • 125mm, 120mm, and 105mm tank ammunition; • More than 1,800,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition; and • Mine clearing equipment.

Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems

• 20 Mi-17 helicopters; • Switchblade Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS); • Phoenix Ghost UAS; • CyberLux K8 UAS; • Altius-600 UAS; • Jump-20 UAS; • Hornet UAS • Puma UAS; • Scan Eagle UAS; • Penguin UAS; • Two radars for UAS; • High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); • Precision aerial munitions; • More than 6,000 Zuni aircraft rockets; • More than 10,000 Hydra-70 aircraft rockets; and • Munitions for UAS.

Anti-armor and Small Arms

• More than 10,000 Javelin anti-armor systems; • More than 80,000 other anti-armor systems and munitions; • More than 7,000 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; • More than 35,000 grenade launchers and small arms; • More than 300,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades; • Laser-guided rocket systems and munitions; • Rocket launchers and ammunition; and • Anti-tank mines.

Maritime

• Two Harpoon coastal defense systems and anti-ship missiles; • 62 coastal and riverine patrol boats; • Unmanned Coastal Defense Vessels; and • Port and harbor security equipment.

Other capabilities

• M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions; • C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment for obstacle clearing; • Obstacle emplacement equipment; • Counter air defense capability; • More than 100,000 sets of body armor and helmets; • Tactical secure communications systems and support equipment; • Four satellite communications (SATCOM) antennas; • SATCOM terminals and services; • Electronic jamming equipment; • Commercial satellite imagery services; • Night vision devices, surveillance and thermal imagery systems, optics, and rangefinders; • Explosive ordnance disposal equipment and protective gear; • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment; • Medical supplies, including first aid kits, bandages, monitors, and other equipment; • Field equipment, cold weather gear, generators, and spare parts; and • Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

Defense News August 2023