The United States announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine on Friday that is valued at up to $400 million.
This is the thirty-third presidential drawdown on US inventories, totaling more than $32 billion, used to aid Ukraine since Russian's full-scale invasion began more than one year ago.
In a drawdown, the Defense Department pulls weapons and equipment from US inventories to send abroad, rather than purchasing new weapons from manufacturers.
“This package features more ammunition and support equipment for Ukraine’s precision fires, artillery, and armored vehicle operations," the Defense Department wrote in a statement.
CNN reported earlier Friday key details of the package, including that the aid would include Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges for the first time, a system used to launch bridges to cross trenches and narrow water obstacles.
Here's a look at the weapons, munitions and equipment included in the package:
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- Additional 155mm artillery rounds
- Additional 105mm artillery rounds
- Additional 25mm ammunition
- Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges
- Demolition munitions and equipment for obstacle clearing
- Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair
- Spare parts and other field equipment
Last week, the US announced $2 billion in aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which contracts with the industry to procure the supplies and takes more time.
Ukrainian officials have also been pushing to obtain US F-16 fighter jets, which President Joe Biden and other Western leaders have opposed so far.
