The United States announced on Wednesday new massive, long-term military aid to Ukraine, doubling in particular the number of Himars, powerful, sophisticated artillery systems, to equip the Ukrainian forces.
The Pentagon said the new tranche of military aid totalling $1.1 billion dollars will mainly take the form of arms orders from the American defence industry, and not immediate deliveries. Intended to strengthen Ukraine's defence in the medium to long-term, it includes in particular 18 Himars precision artillery systems.
This would double the number of such systems given and promised to Ukraine. The United States had already sent the Ukrainian army 16 of these High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or Himars, the rocket launcher systems mounted on light armour that have played an important role in recent counter-offensives against the Russians.
The promised aid also includes 150 Humvee armoured vehicles, 150 tactical weapons tractor vehicles, radars and anti-drone defence systems, the US Department of Defense said in a statement.
The Pentagon said the new aid demonstrated the commitment of the United States to continue to support Ukraine for the long term and represented a multi-year investment in capabilities essential to the sustained strengthening of Ukraine's armed forces as they defend Ukraine's sovereignty and territory against Russian aggression.
This new tranche brings US military aid to Ukraine to $16.2 billion since the start of the Russian invasion of the country on 24 February and $16.9 billion since Joe Biden became president in January 2021.
