Pentagon to send 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine for NASAMS, Patriot air defense systems
US officials are working to transfer billions in military aid to Ukraine before January, facing both logistical hurdles and concerns over depleting American stockpiles.
The Biden administration plans to deliver more than 500 interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, according to a senior administration official.
The weapons shipments, cited by the Wall Street Journal, “should meet Ukraine’s air defense needs for the rest of this year,” according to US officials.
The push to send billions in military aid faces significant challenges as the Pentagon grapples with concerns over depleting US stockpiles.
Over $7 billion in drawdown authority for weapons transfers and over $2 billion for long-term equipment contracts remain unspent.
In a shift from previous policy, the Pentagon announced on 8 November it would deploy “a small number of contractors” to assist Ukraine with F-16 and other systems maintenance.
“Ensuring these weapon systems remain mission capable is critical for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently declined a request from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to prioritize Ukraine’s ATACMS deliveries over other buyers, saying it would be “a lot to ask,” according to US officials and a Ukrainian government adviser.
Read also:
- Ukraine to receive about $ 1.37 billion grant from World Bank
- Reuters: Pentagon finally allows US contractors to repair F-16s, Patriots in Ukraine amid major policy shift
- Romania delivers Patriot missile-defense system to Ukraine
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
