US announces new Patriot missiles for Ukraine in new aid package

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday that the United States will provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles for its air defense systems as part of an additional $6 billion aid package.

The missiles will be used to resupply Patriot air defense systems previously provided and are part of a package that also includes more ammunition and rockets for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). Additional equipment to integrate launchers, missiles and radar is also included. Existing Ukrainian weapons, most of which date from the Soviet era.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about the need for patriots Friday morning at the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, a coalition of about 50 countries meeting virtually in a meeting led by the Pentagon. His speech marked the second anniversary of the group that, according to Austin, provided millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armored vehicles and even jet aircraft to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion. It has “moved heaven and earth” to supply the US by April 2022.

Zelensky said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities. “We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them,” Zelensky said. “At this very moment, this is how people’s lives can and should be saved.”

At a Pentagon press conference after the meeting, Austin said the United States was continuing to work with allies to provide additional Patriot systems, but would not commit to sending more American versions.

“They not only need the Patriot, but they also need other types of systems and interceptors,” Austin said. “I would caution against making the Patriot an infallible weapon.”

US officials said the package would be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which involves long-term contracts with the defense industry, and means it could take months or years for the weapons to reach their destination. Are. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose details that have not been made public.

The new funding, which is the largest amount of assistance ever sent by the USAI, will cover a variety of air defense weapons such as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). , Patriot, Switchblade and Puma drones and in addition to anti-drone systems and artillery.

The Ukrainian Defense Contact Group has met almost monthly for the past two years and is the main forum for arms contributions to Kiev for the war.

Friday’s meeting follows the White House’s decision earlier this week to approve the delivery of $1 billion of arms and equipment to Ukraine. Those weapons include various supplies, such as air defense ammunition and large quantities of artillery shells, which are in high demand by Ukrainian forces, as well as armored vehicles and other weapons.

However, this weapon will soon reach Ukraine because it comes directly from the Pentagon’s stockpile, including weapons in warehouses in Europe.