{"id":63515,"date":"2023-01-06T21:10:56","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T21:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/01\/06\/us-to-send-ukraine-largest-package-yet-worth-375-billion\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:46:59","slug":"us-to-send-ukraine-largest-package-yet-worth-375-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2023\/01\/06\/us-to-send-ukraine-largest-package-yet-worth-375-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"US to send Ukraine largest package yet, worth $3.75 billion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. announced its largest Ukraine<\/a> aid package yet, worth $3.75 billion, which includes Bradleys and other armored vehicles as well as $907 million in more financing<\/a> for Ukraine and its neighbors to buy American-made weapons and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new U.S. military drawdown \u2014 worth about $2.85 billion and featuring 50 M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles<\/a> armed with anti-tank missiles \u2014 is aimed at getting as much to Ukrainian forces as possible during the winter months, before spring sets in and an expected increase in fighting begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pentagon officials say the provision of several hundred armored vehicles, along with plans for U.S. training of Ukrainian troops on combined arms as well as operations and maintenance of the Bradleys, offer Ukraine a chance to retake territory from Russia\u2019s invasion force. The vehicles are expected to help Ukraine\u2019s infantry accompany its fast-moving armored forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese capabilities will complement and work with the expanded U.S.-led training beginning this month that will build Ukraine\u2019s capacity to conduct joint maneuver and combined operations,\u201d Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, told reporters at the Pentagon. \u201cWe will ensure Ukraine has both the equipment and the skilled force necessary to sustain its efforts to push back on Russian aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new aid, which draws from the Ukraine spending package Congress approved<\/a> last month, includes $225 million for Ukraine and $682 million for European allies, under the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program, to buy American-made military gear over the long term. Cooper said Ukraine would likely buy air defense weapons, artillery and armored vehicles \u2014 its top priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest military equipment drawn down from U.S. military stockpiles includes new types of projectiles, such as an undisclosed number of RIM-7 Seasparrow missiles, which Ukraine can integrate into its Soviet-era Buk air defenses, and 4,000 127mm Zuni rockets, which can be mounted on Ukraine\u2019s fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Bradleys come more M113 armored personnel carriers; mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles; and Humvees. The U.S. is sending 155mm Paladin self-propelled howitzers for the first time, with more 105mm towed howitzers and related ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bradley, a tracked vehicle made by BAE Systems, carries up to 10 troops and is usually armed with two TOW anti-tank missiles, a 25mm Bushmaster chain gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. With it the U.S. is sending 500 TOW missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition.<\/p>\n\n\n\t