US to send Ukraine rocket systems and other aid in new package

The US will send another $450 million in military aid to Ukraine, including some additional HIMARS.

This was stated by US officials on Thursday, reports Defense News.

The latest package will include four HIMARS. The initial four HIMARS that the US sent have been already delivered to Ukraine and are in the hand of Ukrainian troops. 

In addition to these missile systems, the United States provides Ukraine with 36,000 105-caliber artillery munitions, 18 155-mm tactical vehicles, 1,200 grenade launchers, 2,000 machine guns, 18 coastal and annual patrol boats as well as spare parts and other equipment.

The new aid comes just a week after the US announced it will send $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have persistently asked for the more advanced precision rocket systems in order to better fight back against Russian troops. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details ahead of an announcement.

Shortly before the announcement of the new aid package, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council said in an interview with the Voice of America that the HIMARS systems provided by the US are important for deterring Russian artillery.

“The big difference that these HIMARS, which stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, can make is distance, its range. It's giving the Ukrainians the benefit of farther standoff from Russian forces as they continue to fight them every single day which is now a much more concentrated geographic area,” the official said.

John Kirby stressed that defense supplies to Ukraine are arriving at a record speed: “We have never seen this before, it is just unprecedented – the speed with which security assistances are actually reaching the frontlines in Ukraine. There are literally shipment going in every single day, and it is not just from the United States; we are the largest donor, but more than 40 other nations around the world are also contributing in the security assistance to Ukraine in various forms.”

Author - Andrew Klark, 24/06/2022