U.S. Senate Imminent Vote on $61 Billion Aid to Ukraine Featuring Bradley IFVs and M113 APCs.

The U.S. Senate is set to vote on April 23, 2024, on a long-delayed military aid program, which includes over $61 billion for Ukraine. The House of Representatives passed the measure on April 20, 2024, after months of disputes. This funding will be used to replenish Pentagon stocks already supplied to Ukraine, as well as to send new weapons and equipment. It will include Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV), M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), and essential air defenses and artillery.
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In January 2024, 186 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles were sent to Ukraine (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)

This represents a significant increase compared to the most recent tranche of $300 million. In March, Department of Defense officials gathered $300 million in savings from previous contracts to send an emergency package to Kyiv, including desperately needed artillery and air defenses, as well as long-range missiles.

However, not all of this amount is directly allocated to Ukraine. More than a third of the amount of $23.2 billion is dedicated to replenishing the U.S. military's weapons and ammunition systems. Nearly $14 billion is earmarked to allow Ukraine to rearm by purchasing equipment and munitions from the American defense industry, while nearly $15 billion will be devoted to support services such as military training and intelligence sharing.

The new package will include armored vehicles, including Bradley fighting vehicles and older M113 armored personnel carriers, as well as missiles, although it is not specified which type, though it may notably include Patriot missiles.

The Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) are two cornerstone vehicles in the U.S. military's mechanized infantry arsenal. The Bradley is designed to transport infantry or scouts with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armored vehicles. Equipped with a 25mm cannon, TOW anti-tank missiles, and a machine gun, it combines firepower, mobility, and protection for troops on the battlefield. The M113, an older yet versatile vehicle, is primarily used to transport troops but has been adapted for various other military roles. It features aluminum armor that offers protection against small arms fire and shrapnel, and is valued for its ability to be airlifted and its amphibious capabilities, making it highly flexible in a wide range of operational environments.

Moreover, according to a POLITICO report from April 20, 2024, the United States is considering sending up to 60 military advisors to Kyiv to facilitate incoming weapons transfers while supporting the Ukrainian government. These advisors would be in a non-combat role.

According to U.S. officials, this new tranche of aid, which still requires final approval from President Joe Biden, should be ready shortly after the signing of a bill authorizing additional financial support for Kyiv. This funding will be used to replenish Pentagon stocks already supplied to Ukraine, as well as to send new weapons and equipment.

During a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on April 22, 2024, Biden promised to quickly provide "significant security assistance packages to meet Ukraine's urgent battlefield and air defense needs." Celeste Wallander, the Assistant Secretary of the Pentagon for International Security Affairs, informed legislators that the aid transfer is scheduled "within a week or two" after its approval.

While U.S. officials have recently warned that Russia is gaining ground as Ukrainian soldiers run out of ammunition on the front lines, CIA Director Bill Burns informed legislators last week that without new U.S. weapons, Ukraine could lose by the end of the year.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the United States has significantly enhanced Ukraine's air defenses, providing systems such as the Patriot, NASAMS, HAWK, and various missiles suitable for air defense, including the AIM-7, RIM-7, and AIM-9M. These supplies improve Ukraine's ability to respond to diverse aerial threats. With the increase in drone attacks, the U.S. has also provided anti-UAS VAMPIRE systems. This aid meets Ukraine's urgent need for enhanced defense capabilities, particularly against air bombardments and attacks by missiles and drones that have intensified with the escalation of the conflict.

Defense News April 2024