A Soldier conducts registration and calibration for the M777A2 howitzer weapon system in Syria, Sept. 30, 2021.
U.S. Military Spc. Isaiah Scott | U.S. Military
WASHINGTON — From heavy artillery to tactical drones to armored autos, the U.S. has dedicated $5.6 billion in army help to Ukraine since Russia invaded in late February.
The most recent help bundle of $1 billion, which is the 12th installment of aid, comes as Russian forces ramp up their struggle in jap and southern Ukraine.
The Pentagon mentioned that the newest tranche of weapons introduced on Wednesday is valued at $350 million. It consists of 18 155 mm howitzers, 36,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition,18 tactical autos to tow 155 mm howitzers, ammunition for Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods, or HMARS, in addition to 4 tactical autos to get well tools and spare components.
The Pentagon will even present two Harpoon coastal protection programs, 1000’s of safe radios and evening imaginative and prescient and thermal units, together with funding for coaching and upkeep assist. That help is collectively valued at $650 million.
This is a take a look at the weapons the U.S. has dedicated to the struggle so far.
Heavy artillery
U.S. Troopers assigned to the sixty fifth Area Artillery Brigade hearth a Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) throughout a joint live-fire train with the Kuwait Land Forces, Jan. 8, 2019, close to Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
Courtesy: U.S. Division of Protection
Heavy artillery platforms sit excessive on Ukrainian army want lists. Up to now, the Pentagon has transferred 126 155 mm howitzer artillery programs from U.S. Military and U.S. Marine Corps stockpiles to Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian troops must prepare alongside U.S. forces earlier than they function the howitzers. The Pentagon has beforehand mentioned that the coaching will happen in a location exterior of Ukraine, however close to the nation.
Together with the howitzers, the U.S. has additionally despatched roughly 260,000 artillery rounds.
The Pentagon has additionally dedicated the Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods, or HMARS, manufactured by protection large Lockheed Martin. The HMARS are designed to shoot a wide range of missiles from a cell 5-ton truck.
Drones
The U.S. has additionally dedicated at least 700 Switchblade drones manufactured by U.S.-based agency AeroVironment. There are two variants of the weapon, the Switchblade 300 and 600. It was not instantly clear which model the U.S. deployed to Ukraine.
Every Switchblade is designed to be a single-use, or “kamikaze,” drone.
The 300 variant is designed to strike small targets. It may well slot in a rucksack, weighs a little bit over 5 kilos and has a variety of 10 miles. The 600 model of the weapon is designed to destroy tanks and different armored autos. It weighs barely greater than 120 kilos and has a variety of greater than 40 miles.
AeroVironment Switchblade 600 Drone
Courtesy: AeroVironment
The Pentagon has additionally dedicated the Puma unmanned aerial system, or UAS, in addition to 121 tactical unmanned aerial programs dubbed “Phoenix Ghost” drones.
In April, then-Pentagon spokesman John Kirby mentioned these drones have been “quickly developed by the Air Power, in response, particularly to Ukrainian necessities.”
“It offers comparable capabilities to the Switchblade collection of unmanned programs, comparable capabilities however not precise. There are different variations within the scope of functionality for the Phoenix Ghosts, however I am simply not going to have the ability to get into extra element about these capabilities proper now,” Kirby mentioned throughout an April 21 press briefing.
The drones are manufactured by Aevex Aerospace in Solana Seashore, California, and are presently within the U.S. Air Power arsenal. As soon as the drones are within the area, U.S. troops will prepare Ukrainian forces on the way to function them.
Armored and tactical autos
U.S. Military Troopers, assigned to Bravo Firm, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, have interaction a goal from a M113A2 armored car throughout squad maneuver coaching at Grafenwoehr Coaching Space on Jan. 14, 2013.
U.S. Military Employees Sergeant Pablo Piedra | U.S. Military
The U.S. has dedicated lots of of armored autos to Ukrainian forces, together with 200 M113 armored autos and lots of of armored high-mobility multipurpose wheeled autos.
The Pentagon has additionally allotted greater than 100 tactical autos to tow U.S Military and U.S. Marine Corps 155 mm howitzers across the battlefield. The army has additionally despatched almost 20 different tactical autos used to assist get well tools.
Plane and radars
Russian Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24military helicopters fly over the northeastern Syrian city of al-Malikiyahat the border with Turkey, on June 3, 2020.
Delil Souleiman | AFP | Getty Photos
The U.S. has agreed to ship 20 Mi-17 Russian army helicopters. A few of these have been as soon as slated to hitch Afghanistan’s army fleet earlier than the gorgeous Taliban takeover of the nation.
The Mi-17s are personnel transport helicopters that may be armed with cannons and rockets to carry out assault or shut air-support roles.
The U.S. army has additionally dedicated 22 of the extremely cell AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars. This radar system is able to finding mortars, artillery and rockets inside a brief vary. The Pentagon has additionally despatched 4 counter-mortar radars.
4 Raytheon AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air surveillance radars have additionally joined the struggle in Ukraine. The Sentinel system is designed to alert front-line air protection weapons at any time when it catches a glimpse of hostile planes, helicopters, drones or missiles. The U.S. has additionally included digital jamming tools.
Missiles and different anti-armor programs
A U.S. infantryman at a mixed arms dwell hearth train at Al-Ghalail Vary in Qatar, on Nov. 14, 2018.
Spc. Jovi Prevot | U.S. Military
Javelin moveable anti-armor weapons additionally sit excessive on the Ukrainian army’s checklist. Up to now, the U.S. has transferred greater than 6,500 Javelins, that are co-produced by protection giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to the Ukrainian authorities.
As well as, the U.S. has dedicated greater than 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft missile programs to Ukraine. It has additionally despatched greater than 20,000 moveable anti-armor programs and different laser-guided rocket programs.
Weapons and ammunition
U.S. Military Pvt. Adam Eggers shoots his M4 rifle at a live-fire vary on Camp Blessing in Kunar province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2009.
U.S. Military Spc. Evan Marcy | U.S. Military
The Pentagon has transferred greater than 7,000 varied kinds of small arms and 50 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
The U.S. has additionally devoted greater than 1 million grenades, mortars and artillery rounds.
Protecting tools
Troopers from A Firm , 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment type and pack a number of the surplus 84,000 ballistic helmets being shipped to armed forces and emergency staff in Ukraine on March 31, 2022 in Donnington, England.
Christopher Furlong | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
The U.S. has to this point despatched greater than 75,000 units of physique armor and helmets to Ukrainian forces, in accordance with figures supplied by the Pentagon.
As well as, the U.S. has additionally outfitted Ukrainian troops with 1000’s of evening imaginative and prescient units, thermal imagery programs and different types of militarized optics.
The U.S. has additionally included medical provides and tools used to assist in fight evacuations. As well as, lots of of chemical, organic, radiological and nuclear protecting tools items have additionally left U.S. stockpiles for Ukraine.
