US aiming to arm Ukraine with 30 HIMARS systems

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“It is not a fact that we have 50 such systems in our arsenal,” Smith said.

“I think the current goal is to reach the number of 25-30 Multiple Launcher Rocket Systems (MLRS). And it will be a combination of HIMARS and several MLRS systems from the UK and other [countries]. We will try to provide as much as we can. 50 or 60 systems will be difficult to assemble and provide, but we want to reach the number of 25 or 30 and provide as much artillery and rocket ammunition for these systems as possible.”

Earlier this week, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that Ukraine needs at least 50 HIMARS and M270 systems to effectively deter the enemy, and at least 100 for an effective counteroffensive.

To date, the United States has transferred a total of 12 HIMARS systems to Ukraine and announced the transfer of four more.

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The head of the U.S. military Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, reported that the US and its allies plan to transfer more than 20 MLRS to Ukraine.

The US has trained 200 Ukrainian troops on the HIMARS MLRS, and many more are currently in training.

Read also: US senators urge Pentagon to deliver more HIMARS to Ukraine

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