U.S. Sends New Drones, Defensive Weapons to Ukraine

The Biden administration on Friday announced another $775 million in missiles, drones, vehicles and mine clearing equipment to Ukraine to help in its war with Russia as the conflict enters a near standstill, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The new package indicates that Washington and Kyiv expect hard fighting on the ground in the coming weeks, according to military experts.

The latest package includes 16 105 mm howitzers, along with 36,000 rounds for the artillery, additional high-speed, anti-radiation missiles, known as HARM missiles, for integration into Ukrainian aircraft to seek and destroy Russian radars, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, as well as armored vehicles, among other armaments.

Also, for the first time, the U.S. is sending 15 ScanEagle surveillance drones to help the Ukrainians spot and correct the precision artillery and rocket strikes that have taken a toll on Russian forces, stalling their progress. The small drones can be moved around the battlefield relatively easily and would be invaluable in the expected push to retake the city of Kherson in the south.

The package comes at a critical time as Ukraine and Russia battle for control of the eastern part of Ukraine, according to the Pentagon.

Nearly 6 months into the war, the two sides are locked in a near operational standstill, with neither Kyiv nor Moscow able to drum up enough ground troops and weapons to turn the course of the conflict, Pentagon officials assess.  

"Right now, I would say that you are seeing a complete and total lack of progress by the Russians on the battlefield," the official told reporters, adding that Ukrainian forces are employing Javelins and HIMARS in very effective ways.

“We want to make sure that Ukraine has a steady stream of ammunition to meet its needs, and that’s what we’re doing with this package.”

The extra shot of lethal aid could help Ukrainian forces gain the upper hand as Russian troops struggle with losses inflicted by U.S.-made missile systems.  

A standout in the latest lethal aid tranche is the HARM, which can be fired from Ukrainian aircraft, have a range of at least 30 miles and are designed to find and destroy radar-equipped air defense systems. The missiles have been credited with taking out some of Russia’s most dangerous weapons systems in Ukraine in recent weeks.

The equipment being sent for the first time also includes 40 heavily armored MaxxPro mine-resistant vehicles, originally developed for U.S. forces in Iraq during the height of the fighting there when roadside bombs were taking a heavy toll on U.S. forces. In Ukraine, they will clear roads and fields before ground troops push forward, creating paths through dense minefields laid by the Russians.

In addition, the package will consist of 1,000 Javelins; 36,000 105 mm artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; 1,500 tube-launched optically tracked wire-guided missiles; 2,000 anti-armor rounds; 50 Humvees; tactical secure communication systems; night vision devices; thermal imagery systems; and optics and laser range finders.

The latest lethal aid follows the $1 billion in weapons and equipment given to the embattled country earlier this month, the largest such tranche pledged since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

"This isn't the end. We will continue to consult with the Ukrainians to make sure that we are providing them what they need, when they need it," the Pentagon official said.

Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.