US announces new military aid package for Ukraine, including air defenses, ammo, satellite imagery services

On 9 May, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package to "reaffirm the steadfast US support for Ukraine, including to bolster its air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs." The Pentagon says the package totals up to $1.2 billion and is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

"Unlike Presidential Drawdown authority (PDA), which DoD has continued to leverage to deliver equipment to Ukraine from DoD stocks at a historic pace, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry or partners," the statement reads.

According to the Pentagon statement, the capabilities in this package include:

• Additional air defense systems and munitions;
• Equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine’s air defense systems;
• Ammunition for counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• 155mm artillery rounds;
• Commercial satellite imagery services;
• Support for training, maintenance, and sustainment activities.

Read also:

• Munitions, anti-tank rockets in next USD 2.6 bln US pledge for Ukraine – Reuters sources
• US to accelerate delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, those may arrive as soon as this fall – media
• Ukraine, US top officials held talks about further military aid and the situation on the battlefield
• US to announce new 400 mn USD military aid package for Ukraine
• US military aid to Ukraine exceeds average annual Afghanistan war expenditure
• Biden “ruling out” for now sending F-16s to Ukraine – ABC
• US announces $2 bn aid package for Ukraine, including drones, ammunition, electronic warfare