US to provide Ukraine with $125 million military aid package
The security assistance includes two armed Mark VI patrol boats, counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, and support for a satellite imagery and analysis capability
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 05/03/2021
A Mark VI patrol boat. Photo: US Navy
The U.S. Department of Defense announced this week a new $125 million military aid package to help Ukraine’s forces preserve the country’s territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO. According to the department, this action reaffirms the U.S. commitment to providing defensive lethal weapons to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression.
The package includes two additional armed Mark VI patrol boats to enhance Ukraine’s capacity to patrol and defend its territorial waters. To date, the U.S. has committed a total of eight Mark VI patrol boats. The package also includes the provision of additional counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment; continued support for a satellite imagery and analysis capability; and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures, the department said.
The remaining $150 million in fiscal year 2021 USAI funds appropriated by Congress will be provided when the Defense Department, in coordination with the Department of State, certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act. The Department encourages Ukraine to continue to enact reforms that strengthen civilian control of the military, promote increased transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards. The United States has committed more than $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, according to the department.
The security assistance includes two armed Mark VI patrol boats, counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment, and support for a satellite imagery and analysis capability
A Mark VI patrol boat. Photo: US Navy
The U.S. Department of Defense announced this week a new $125 million military aid package to help Ukraine’s forces preserve the country’s territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO. According to the department, this action reaffirms the U.S. commitment to providing defensive lethal weapons to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression.
The package includes two additional armed Mark VI patrol boats to enhance Ukraine’s capacity to patrol and defend its territorial waters. To date, the U.S. has committed a total of eight Mark VI patrol boats. The package also includes the provision of additional counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment; continued support for a satellite imagery and analysis capability; and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures, the department said.
The remaining $150 million in fiscal year 2021 USAI funds appropriated by Congress will be provided when the Defense Department, in coordination with the Department of State, certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act. The Department encourages Ukraine to continue to enact reforms that strengthen civilian control of the military, promote increased transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards. The United States has committed more than $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, according to the department.
