U.S. preparing $3 billion package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine, the largest yet

Courtney Kube and Mosheh Gains
Updated ·1 min read
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The Biden administration is preparing the largest package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine to date, worth roughly $3 billion, two defense officials said Tuesday.

The administration announced the package on Wednesday, which is not only Ukraine’s independence day but is also six months to the day since Russia invaded.

The package will fall under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which draws weapons and equipment from private industry rather than the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which draws from the U.S. stockpile.

Marines launch a high mobility artillery rocket system, known as HIMARS, during a weapons and tactics instructor course at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, on April 6. (Marine Corps Pfc. Sarah Pysher)
Marines launch a high mobility artillery rocket system, known as HIMARS, during a weapons and tactics instructor course at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, on April 6. (Marine Corps Pfc. Sarah Pysher)

The package includes radars, surface-to-air missiles, ammunition drones and laser-guided rockets.

weapons with newly developed capabilities, a response to the Defense Department’s request this year for private industry to develop and speed new capabilities to Ukraine.

In part, the contents of the package reflect the Pentagon's request to private industry this year to develop and speed new capabilities to Ukraine. The Pentagon had specifically asked for air defense, anti-tank and unmanned aerial systems and communications equipment.

Many of the systems will not be in the hands of Ukrainian fighters for months or years because they’re still being developed, the officials said.