US sending $2.6bn military aid package to Ukraine including Himars ammo

The US is sending additional military kit to Ukraine including artillery rounds and rocket systems as part of a $2.6bn package.

Announced on Tuesday, the support includes $500m in equipment from existing US stockpiles, plus $2.1bn on new kit that Washington will buy from manufacturers.

The US has provided more military support to Ukraine than any other country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than a year ago and this latest package comes ahead of expected spring offensives.

• How could Ukraine take back Crimea from Russia?
• US expected to announce $2.6bn in a fresh round of military aid for Ukraine
• PM Sunak defends use of British munitions stockpiles to support Ukraine

Equipment being sent from US inventories to Ukraine include more ammunition for the Himars multiple rocket launcher and Patriot air defence system that Ukrainian troops are currently using to repel Russian forces.

While the $2.1bn, provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), will be spent on procuring capabilities from industry rather than delivering equipment that is drawn down from Department of Defense stocks.

This includes additional munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (Nasams), laser-guided rocket systems and air surveillance radars.

The department said: "The announcement of this USAI package represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional capabilities to Ukraine's Armed Forces."

The capabilities being sent from US stockpiles include: 

• Additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars)
• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds
• 120mm mortar rounds
• 120mm and 105mm tank ammunition
• 25mm ammunition
• Tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missiles
• Approximately 400 grenade launchers and 200,000 rounds of ammunition
• 11 tactical vehicles to recover equipment
• 61 heavy fuel tankers
• 10 trucks and 10 trailers to transport heavy equipment
• Testing and diagnostic equipment to support vehicle maintenance and repair
• Spare parts and other field equipment

Under the USAI funding programme, the US will provide Ukraine with: 

• Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (Nasams)
• Nine counter-Unmanned Aerial System 30mm gun trucks
• 10 mobile c-UAS laser-guided rocket systems
• Three air surveillance radars
• 30mm and 23mm anti-aircraft ammunition
• 130mm and 122mm artillery rounds
• 122mm GRAD rockets
• Rocket launchers and ammunition
• 120mm and 81mm mortar systems
• 120mm, 81mm, and 60mm mortar rounds
• 120mm tank ammunition
• Javelin anti-armour systems
• Anti-armour rockets
• Precision aerial munitions
• Approximately 3,600 small arms and more than 23,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
• Seven tactical vehicles to recover equipment
• Eight heavy fuel tankers and 105 fuel trailers
• Armoured bridging systems
• Four logistics support vehicles
• Trucks and 10 trailers to transport heavy equipment
• Secure communications equipment
• SATCOM terminals and services
• Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment

The UK is continuing to support Ukraine, vowing to match the £2.3bn sent in aid to Ukraine in 2022, as well as training Ukrainian troops.

Ukrainian forces are currently fighting to push Russian out of its territory, including Crimea which was annexed illegally by Moscow in 2014.