US announces additional arms aid for Ukraine worth $325m

In this file photo dated Sept 26, 2022, a High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) is pictured during military exercise in Skede, Latvia. (PHOTO / AFP)

WASHINGTON – The United States on Wednesday announced an additional package of weapons for Ukraine worth $325 million.

According to a list from the Department of Defense (DoD), the new tranche of security assistance included additional ammunition for the US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); artillery rounds; tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missiles; anti-tank mines; port and harbor security equipment; four logistics support vehicles, and over 9 million rounds of small arms ammunition, among other items.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the assistance is "essential to strengthening Ukraine's defenders on the battlefield"

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HIMARS is a missile launcher mounted on a truck that can fire multiple guided missiles in quick succession. Missiles supplied to Ukraine have a range of up to 80 km.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who received a delegation of authority from President Joe Biden to authorize the presidential drawdown of the weapons, said in a statement the assistance is "essential to strengthening Ukraine's defenders on the battlefield."

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This is the 36th presidential drawdown of military equipment from the DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.