US Ambassador: US to sell Ukraine $ 138 mn worth of equipment to modernize air defense systems

This will support repairing Hawk missile systems that protect critical infrastructure from Russia's attacks on energy grid & civilians.

Apr 13, 2024 - 09:05

US Ambassador: US to sell Ukraine $ 138 mn worth of equipment to modernize air defense systems

The United States signed an agreement on 11 April to sell equipment for the modernization of Ukraine’s air defense systems worth $138 million.

Bridget Brink, the US Ambassador to Ukraine, said on X that “this funding will help keep Ukraine’s air defenses operating in the face of Russia’s relentless attacks on the energy grid and the Ukrainian people.”

In the last month, Russia renewed its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, launching combined missile and drone assaults, using drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles to target energy facilities.

The US State Department approved on 10 April the sale of $138 million worth of equipment to Ukraine for the repair of Hawk air defense missile systems, which protect critical Ukrainian infrastructure.

The US began supplying Ukraine with Hawk interceptor missiles in 2022 as a replacement for portable Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems. Since then, Ukraine has received several air defense systems, including the American Patriot system.

The Hawk is a semi-stationary medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The range of the air defense missile system is 45-50 kilometers, and the target altitude is up to 20 kilometers. A semi-active homing seeker guides the missile.

Between 22 and 29 March, Russia targeted at least seven thermal power plants in regions with less robust air defenses compared to Kyiv. Additionally, Russian missiles struck two hydroelectric power plants. On the morning of 11 April, Russia launched over 40 missiles and about 40 drones at critical infrastructure targets in Kharkiv, leaving people without power, as well as energy infrastructure in the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Lviv oblasts.

Ukraine’s Air Forces lacks air defense systems. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview for the Washington Post (WP) published on 10 April that Ukraine needs at least seven Patriot air defense systems to protect at least critical infrastructure.

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