United States Announces Major New Assistance for Ukraine Including M113s.

On June 7, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced that the Biden administration would provide additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical needs. This latest tranche of equipment marks the fifty-ninth package supplied from DoD inventories since August 2021, underscoring the ongoing commitment of the United States to support Ukraine. This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, valued at approximately $225 million, aims to enhance Ukraine's battlefield capabilities with a range of advanced military equipment.
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An M113 Armored Personnel Carrier during part of the field training exercise at Saber Strike 2014. (Picture source: US DoD)

The newly announced aid package includes a comprehensive array of defensive tools and systems designed to address Ukraine's immediate needs on the ground. Key components of the package include missiles for HAWK air defense systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). Additionally, the package features 155mm howitzers (with the exact type unspecified), various artillery rounds, and 81mm mortar systems to strengthen Ukraine's artillery capabilities.

To support ground operations, the package includes M113 armored personnel carriers, trailers for transporting heavy equipment, and coastal and riverine patrol boats. The inclusion of Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, as well as small arms ammunition and grenades, highlights the emphasis on enhancing Ukraine's anti-armor and infantry capabilities.

Furthermore, the package provides essential support equipment such as demolition munitions, night vision devices, and spare parts necessary for maintenance and operational sustainability. However, no precise figures were disclosed, so the exact quantities of these various materials being sent to Ukrainian forces remain unknown.

The M113 is an armored personnel carrier used by the US Army and other armed forces since 1960. Designed by FMC in the United States, it has been produced on a large scale with more than 85,000 units manufactured since 2001.

This vehicle can transport a crew of two and accommodate up to eleven additional passengers. With a length of 5.31 meters, a width of 2.69 meters, and a height of 1.86 meters, the M113 is compact enough to be maneuverable while offering robust protection to its occupants. In combat situations, its weight can reach up to 14,061 kg.

The M113's armor is made from laminated aluminum and magnesium alloy, providing 38mm thick protection inclined at 45° on the front glacis and 45mm at 90° on the sides of the hull. This armor design maximizes defense against projectiles while maintaining a relatively low weight. For armament, the M113 is equipped with a 12.7mm M2 machine gun as its primary weapon, although it does not have secondary armament.

In terms of mobility, the vehicle is powered by a Detroit Diesel 6V53T engine developing 275 horsepower, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 66 km/h on the road and 5.8 km/h when traversing water. The M113 uses a torsion bar suspension system and has a power-to-weight ratio of 20.2 horsepower per ton. It has a range of 480 km, making it effective for extended battlefield deployments.

While the M113 is technically outdated, the United States has produced over 85,000 units, including 32,000 for the US Army. Considering the number of vehicles the United States could potentially send to Ukraine, this is indeed the M113's main strength.

The United States, in coordination with over 50 allied and partner nations, seems committed to ensuring that Ukraine's defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to combat Russian military advances, which was not necessarily assured given recent blockages within the US administration.