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.
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