{"id":33077,"date":"2022-09-28T21:10:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-28T21:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/09\/28\/new-ukraine-aid-will-buy-18-himars-and-weapons-to-disrupt-drones\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:42:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:42:53","slug":"new-ukraine-aid-will-buy-18-himars-and-weapons-to-disrupt-drones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/govcon\/2022\/09\/28\/new-ukraine-aid-will-buy-18-himars-and-weapons-to-disrupt-drones\/","title":{"rendered":"New Ukraine aid will buy 18 HIMARS and weapons to \u2018disrupt\u2019 drones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 The Pentagon announced Wednesday it will contract with industry for $1.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including 18 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems<\/a> and other arms to counter drones Russia has been using against Ukrainian troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new weapons and equipment, being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative<\/a>, are aimed at meeting Kyiv\u2019s mid- and long-term needs and could take six to 24 months to arrive. The Biden administration, which has committed aid worth $17 billion to Ukraine, has been using presidential drawdown authority to send arms more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest package includes 18 of the Lockheed Martin<\/a>-made HIMARS and associated ammunition, which Ukraine has used to target Russian supplies. It also incudes 12 Titan systems, which detect, track and disrupt drones, as Russia has employed Iranian-made drones in the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A senior Pentagon official told reporters that the newly committed HIMARS systems are intended to be a \u201ccore component of Ukraine\u2019s fighting force in the future.\u201d Earlier this year, Ukraine received 16 HIMARS from U.S. military stockpiles and 10 equivalent systems from western allies, but the new HIMARS will take \u201ca few years\u201c to deliver, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a really sizable investment, and it\u2019s intended so that down the road, Ukraine will have what it needs for the long haul, to deter future threats,\u201d the official said. \u201cBut it in no way rules out us continuing to invest in their current force with capabilities that are available today and that we can draw down today from U.S. stocks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new aid includes 20 <\/b>multi-mission radars that can track artillery and mortar fire, among other airborne objects; two radars for use with drones; and unspecified tactical communications systems, surveillance systems, optics and explosive ordnance disposal equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also included are more than 300 vehicles, including Humvees, trucks and other vehicles to tow and carry arms and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\t