US announces $400 million Ukraine aid package to include T-72 tanks
Pentagon (Photo:REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)
An upcoming $400 million U.S. security assistance package for Ukraine will include 45 refurbished T-72 main battle tanks – in addition to armored personnel carriers, drones, and air defense systems, U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Sabrina Singh said during a press briefing on Nov. 4.
According to Singh, Ukraine is set to receive a total of 90 Czech-sourced T-72 tanks: the United States will cover repairs and modernization of 45 of them, with the Netherlands taking care of the other half. Some of the tanks will be in Ukraine by the end of December, others will arrive in 2023. According to her, these will be the most advanced tanks on the battlefield – once they are upgraded.
Furthermore, the package will finance repairs of Hawk air defense / missile defense systems and maintenance of 250 pieces of M1117 armored personnel carriers, in addition to the transfer of 1,100 Phoenix Ghost loitering munition UAVs and 40 armored riverboats.
The Pentagon noted that U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has allocated more than $18.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, to date.
On Oct. 28, the United States announced a $275 million aid package to Ukraine, which included ammunition for HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and 125 HMMWV armored vehicles.
On Oct. 15, Biden announced a $725 million aid package to Ukraine. It included HIMARS projectiles, 155mm artillery shells, HARM anti-radar missiles, and HMMWV armored vehicles.
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