The United States is sending more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine to help the country with its ongoing counteroffensive.
Although the Ukrainian forces have taken casualties in four weeks of fighting, they still maintain the vast majority of their Western heavy weapon systems.
The latest package of military aid is meant to replace any losses and replenish the ammunition stocks of the Ukrainian forces that are working overtime.
M2 Bradleys and Lots of Ammo
The latest package of military aid is broken down into four components: air defense and air power, long-range fires, ground combat, and support.
When it comes to air defense and air power, the U.S. is sending Ukraine additional munitions for its two MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems, more FIM-92 Stinger portable anti-aircraft weapons, AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation missiles (HARMS), and precision aerial munitions. Despite losing ground in the Donbas and southern Ukraine, the Russian military continues to expend expensive ballistic and cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities. The above security aid is designed to enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian air defenses.
The long-range fires component contains 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds as well as M31 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, for the fearsome M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). There is an intense artillery duel between the two sides, and these munitions will help Ukraine prevail.
The ground component of the package includes 30 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 25 M1126 Stryker armored personnel carriers, FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles, AT-4 anti-tank missiles, and TOW anti-tank missiles.
Finally, the support component includes 22 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades, thermal imagery systems, night vision devices, demolition munitions, mine clearing equipment, small arms, spare parts, and other field equipment.
“This authorization is the Biden Administration’s forty-first drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. [It] includes key capabilities to support Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations, strengthen its air defenses to help Ukraine protect its people, as well as additional armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, critical munitions, and other equipment to help Ukraine push back on Russia’s war of aggression,” the Department of Defense stated in a press release.
All in all, the package has an estimated worth of $500 million; it is the fourth package of military aid in June.
Since the wholescale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. has committed more than $40.5 billion in security aid to the eastern European country. The United Kingdom, NATO, and the European Union have committed additional funds to the defense of Ukraine.
The Counteroffensive
The Ukrainian counteroffensive has been moving slowly but steadily in several different directions along the contact line.
The Ukrainian military has yet to commit its best units—the heavy brigades trained and equipped by the West—and will only do so once there is an opportunity to create an operational breakthrough.
Fighting on the ground is fierce, but as the days pass, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Ukrainian military has an advantage in the quality of troops and weapon systems. The U.S. and NATO must continue to support Kyiv with security aid to ensure the swiftest possible conclusion to the conflict.
A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
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