Baltic states to deliver US Stinger air defense missiles to Ukraine, says Latvian defense minister
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are to send Ukraine U.S.-made Javelin and Stinger missiles, as well as various other types of military equipment, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said in a tweet on Jan. 21.
Earlier, on Jan. 19, the U.S. State Department approved the supply by the United States' Baltic NATO allies of U.S.-made lethal weapons to Ukraine. However, it is still unknown when the first shipment of weapons will arrive.
Ukraine has been asking for the U.S. to provide Stingers as, according to Ukrainian expert Taras Chmut, this short-range man-portable air defense system, or MANPADS, will allow Ukraine to protect itself from possible airstrikes by Russian attack helicopters.
Russia outguns Ukraine in every aspect of military power, from troop numbers to quantities of tanks, artillery and ships.
However, it is Russia's ability to quickly establish air superiority that has most concerned military experts pondering Ukraine's options for defense.
Ukraine has already received deliveries from the United States of the U.S.-made Javelin anti-tank missile, which is capable of defeating modern tanks by hitting them from above, where their armor is thinner.
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