U.S. boosts Ukraine's defenses with 500 interceptors
The U.S. Department of Defense has decided to supply Ukraine with over 500 interceptor missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems. According to the Wall Street Journal, these missiles are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and support Ukraine’s air defence needs through the end of this year.
More than 500 interceptor missiles for the Patriot missile defence system and the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) are expected to arrive in Ukraine soon.
On Friday, the U.S. administration also announced it would send a "small number of contractors" to Ukraine to assist in repairing and maintaining F-16 aircraft and other military systems. They are expected to arrive in the coming months and will work away from the front line. "Ensuring these weapon systems remain mission capable is critical for Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression," emphasized the Pentagon.
The "Wall Street Journal," citing U.S. government officials, reported that the Pentagon, concerned about its stockpile levels, is also considering purchasing armaments from other countries.
Despite Kyiv's insistence, the Pentagon remains reluctant to provide Ukraine with additional Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range of up to 320 kilometres. The U.S. claims that these would enable attacks on areas behind Russian front lines. They also note that Russia has relocated its aircraft and valuable targets out of their range.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has rejected a recent request from President Volodymyr Zelensky to prioritize ATACMS deliveries to Ukraine, calling it "a lot to ask." A new version of this weaponry, the Precision Strike Missile, is in production, but it will take years to produce enough to replace ATACMS.
Citing American officials, the newspaper notes that the U.S. administration is asking allies to supply Ukraine with missiles from their reserves. It also highlights that the election of Donald Trump as president previously disrupted the United States' campaign to support Ukraine.
According to the "Wall Street Journal," authorization to reduce stockpiles by over $7 (CAD 9.7) billion, allowing the Pentagon to provide arms and ammunition to Ukraine, has still not been fully utilized. Additionally, over $2 (CAD 2.8) billion allocated for funding long-term contracts for equipment for Kyiv has not been used.
