The US Department of Defence (DoD) announced an additional $425m of military aid from the US to Ukraine on 3 November 2023, with $300m in military supplies being contributed through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), and a further $300m from Ukraine Security Assistance funds.
The PDA will supply Ukraine with additional munitions for air defence in the form of NASAMS, as well as munitions for deep strike capabilities through HIMARS. There is also an undisclosed number of artillery rounds of the 155mm and 105mm calibres, to supplement the very high demand being put on regular artillery production lines.
A range of other artillery options are also included in the package, including: Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel munitions; and more than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenades.
Ukrainian forces can also expect to receive 12 trucks to transport heavy equipment, demolitions for obstacle clearing and cold weather gear for personnel.
The only line item announced from the DoD regarding the $300m from the Ukraine Security Assistance funds, for additional laser guided munitions to counter unmanned aerial systems.
In a 31 October press briefing the DoD announced it had submitted an urgent supplementary budget request on 31 for $58bn to support Ukraine and Israel.
The defence officials said that the funding request made by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the US Senate comprised of $10.6bn “to help Israel defend itself”, a further $44.4bn “to help Ukraine continue to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing aggression” and $3.3bn “to meet US military requirements in our submarine industrial base and to fulfill our AUKUS commitments”.
On 26 October, the US announced its latest security assistance package to Ukraine, including provision of air defence missiles, 105mm and 155mm artillery shells, Javelin anti-armour systems, and more than two million rounds of small arms ammunition, among other equipment, valued at a total of $150m.
Additional reporting by Richard Thomas.
