Pentagon announces $150m military assistance package for Ukraine

Europe, News, US June 11, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

Pentagon to send counter-drone, electronic warfare equipment to Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced plans to send Ukraine $150 million in military assistance, bolstering Kyiv amid increasing tensions with Moscow.

The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) includes training, equipment, and advisory efforts to help Ukraine’s forces preserve the country’s territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO, the official statement said.

The USAI package will include counter-artillery radar, counter-drone technology and electronic warfare equipment, secure communications gear and training and equipment to improve the operational safety and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force bases.

The military assistance will enhance the lethality, command and control, and situational awareness of Ukraine’s forces.

This $150 million package certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon said.

The United States has committed more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014 and has vowed to continue to strengthen its strategic defense partnership, including through the provision of defensive lethal assistance. “The United States will also continue to assist Ukraine with the implementation of these reforms to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations in support of a secure, prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine,” the Penatgon said.

The latest support comes in addition to the $125 million defense aid package announced on March 1, 2021m that included armed Mark VI patrol boats, counter-artillery radars, tactical equipment, support for satellite imagery and analysis capability, and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures.