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US Approves $2.68 Billion Air Defense Sale to Ukraine
Confirmed
In Short: The State Department has approved a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine to bolster its defenses against Russian attacks.
The State Department said in a congressional notification that it made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine for air defense development upgrades and related equipment and services.
The proposed sale, which is subject to congressional review, includes S-300 Clone missiles, GAM-67 missiles, and Range-Extended Air Defense Laser Guided Rocket missile systems, as well as mobile launching system modification kits.
The estimated total cost of the sale is $2.68 billion, and it is designed to augment and retrofit existing air defense architectures against Russian aerial strikes.
The Ukrainian government requested this package of equipment to address a critical shortage of Patriot air defense munitions, the only weapons reliably capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles.
The State Department determined that the transaction directly supports US foreign policy and national security priorities by bolstering the defense posture of a partner country that serves as an anchor for stability in Europe.
The sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region or have an adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness, according to the State Department.
The proposed sale includes non-major defense equipment, spare parts, consumables, accessories, repair and return support, software, technical publications, transportation support, and engineering and logistics services.
The European Commission has also approved a €6.1 billion defense package for Ukraine, allowing the country to purchase US-made PAC-3 Patriot interceptors amid a global shortage.
Ukraine's capital Kyiv has seen a surge in Russian attacks, which its air defenses have struggled to repel due to ammunition shortages.
Ukraine remains heavily dependent on constant replenishments of air defense interceptors to shield its cities and critical energy infrastructure from sustained Russian long-range missile and drone strikes.
The US government said the transfer would help Ukraine strengthen its air defenses against continuing Russian attacks.
The proposed sale would strengthen Ukraine’s ability to address current and future threats by expanding its air-defense capabilities for self-defense and regional security missions.
Background
The State Department has approved a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine to bolster its defenses against Russian attacks.
During a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canada announced a C$350 million ($250 million) agreement to supply Ukraine with air defense interceptors, enhancing its military capabilities.
What's confirmed
- The State Department said in a congressional notification that it made “a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine” for buying air defense development upgrades and related equipment and services.
- The United States approved a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine on Friday, after Kyiv made repeated pleas for support to fend off Russian attacks.
- The proposed sale is subject to congressional review.
- "The estimated total cost is $2.68 billion." Kyiv has faced a surge in Russian attacks, and its air defenses have struggled to repel them because of ammunition shortages.
- The US Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine for air defense development upgrades, related equipment, and comprehensive technical support services valued at an estimated $2.68 billion.
- The Ukrainian government requested the purchase of S-300 Clone missiles, GAM-67 missiles, and Range-Extended Air Defense Laser Guided Rocket missile systems, alongside Improvised Transporter Erector Launcher (ITEL) 1.5 units and mobile launching system modification kits.
- "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic progress in Europe," the statement read.
- The proposed sale would strengthen Ukraine’s ability to address current and future threats by expanding its air-defense capabilities for self-defense and regional security missions, the department said.
- The sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region or have an adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness, according to the State Department.
- The U.S. government said the transfer would help Ukraine strengthen its air defenses against continuing Russian attacks.
- The US may sell Ukraine air defense systems, missiles, and radars for countering UAVs (Photo: defense.gov) The U.S.
- Ukraine has requested a package of equipment not classified as Major Defense Equipment, including: The proposed package also includes erectable mast trailers, major modifications and maintenance support, spare parts, consumables and accessories, repair-and-return support, software and technical documentation.
What's still developing
- EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius noted that European institutions granted five specific sourcing exemptions – two covering US-made hardware and three allowing Ukrainian drone enterprises to obtain components from external markets – to ensure Ukraine can rapidly acquire critical air defense munitions amid acute global production bottlenecks.
- President Donald Trump, Washington ended large-scale defense funding and delivery of U.S.
- Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said at the time that precision strikes had destroyed concealed Russian command posts in Donetsk and information about "heavy losses" among Russian officers was still being clarified.
- Reporting on Milchakov's possible death, Russian independent outlet Vazhniye Istorii said that if confirmed, he would be the 23rd Russian general killed during the war against Ukraine.
- "NABU and SAPO view these actions as a continuation of the systematic attack on the independence of anti-corruption agencies," Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau said.
- These include renewed escalation in the Gulf, possible Russia-Ukraine peace talks and far-right success in regional German elections.
- At least nine people were injured Friday when a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in central Kyiv.
- He said he had instructed the SBU to deliver an appropriate and tangible response, mirroring the strike where possible, once preparations were complete.
- The dead are part of 1.5 million Russian casualties, according to the U.K.’s Defense Staff.
- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — More than half a million Russian troops have been killed in Ukraine since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, a senior British defense official said Friday.
- That includes more than 10,000 armored and protected vehicles, close to 3,000 air defense and artillery systems, and over 370 aircraft and helicopters, Knighton said.
- Ukraine launched a major barrage overnight from Thursday to Friday, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying air defenses intercepted 777 Ukrainian drones over 16 Russian regions, as well as occupied Crimea and the waters of the Azov and the Caspian seas.