The United States is preparing more than $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine, which is expected to include longer-range rockets for the first time, as well as other munitions and weapons, two US officials briefed on the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.
The arms aid is expected to be announced this week, the officials said. It is also expected to include support equipment for Patriot air defense systems, precision guided munitions and Javelin anti-tank weapons, they added.
One of the officials said that a portion of the package, expected to be $1.725 billion, would come from a fund known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows President Joe Biden’s administration to get industry weapons instead of existing US weapons. stocks.
The USAI funds would go towards the purchase of a new weapon, the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) made by Boeing Co, which has a range of 94 miles (150 km). The United States has rejected Ukraine’s requests for the 297 km (185 mi) range ATACMS missile.
The longer range of the GLSDB glide bomb could allow Ukraine to hit targets that have been out of reach and help it continue to press its counterattacks by further disrupting Russia behind its lines.
Reuters first reported on Boeing’s proposal to introduce GLSDB for Ukraine in November. At that time it was expected that GLSDB could be in Ukraine in the spring.
GLSDB is made jointly by SAAB AB and Boeing. It combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket motor, both of which are common in US inventories.
GLSDB is GPS-guided, can overcome some electronic interference, can be used in all weather conditions, and can be used against armored vehicles, according to the SAAB website. The GBU-39, which would function as the warhead for the GLSDB, has small folding wings that allow it to glide for more than 100 km if dropped from an aircraft and hit targets as small as 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter.
The USAI funds would also be used to pay for more components for HAWK air defenses, counter-drone systems, counter-artillery and air surveillance radars, communications equipment, PUMA drones and spare parts for major systems like the Patriot and Bradley, one of the officials said. officials. .
There was also a significant amount of medical equipment to equip three field hospitals that was donated by another ally, the official added.
The White House declined to comment.
In addition to the USAI funds, more than $400 million in aid was expected to come from the funds of the Presidential Retirement Authority, which allows the president to draw from current US stocks in an emergency.
That aid was expected to include Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, Multiple Launch Rocket Guided Systems (GMLRS) and munitions.
The United States has sent approximately $27.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
