Marines launch a high mobility artillery rocket system during weapons and tactics instructor course at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, April 6, 2022. (Photo By: Marine Corps Pfc. Sarah Pysher)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
WASHINGTON DC – PENTAGON – The Biden administration announced Wednesday a new $700 million package of weapons for Ukraine that includes an advanced rocket launcher system. The Pentagon is sending four M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, which is the most advanced rocket weapons to be used so far by Ukraine in the war with Russia. According to the Pentagon, the rockets are capable of hitting a target more than 40 miles away.
“What the HIMARS will allow them to do is to get greater standoff. Right now, the Howitzers we provided them have about a 30 km range; the HIMARS have more than twice that, which will allow them — even with fewer systems — greater standoff,”
said Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, during a briefing with reporters Wednesday at the Pentagon.
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times / Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, unveils $700 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington DC June 1, 2022.
U.S. Sending Ukraine $700 Million in Military Aid Including Advanced Rocket Launcher – YouTube
“The capabilities in this package include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS, and guided munitions with a range of up to 70 kilometers, five counter artillery radars, two air surveillance radars, 1,000 additional javelins, and 50 command launch units, 6,000 anti-armor weapons 15,000 155-millimeter artillery rounds, four MI-17 helicopters, 15 tactical vehicles, and spare parts and equipment. These are critical capabilities to help the Ukrainians repel the Russian offensive in the east.”
-Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times / Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, unveils $700 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington DC June 1, 2022.
The latest authorization is the eleventh drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
Capabilities in this package include:
- High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition;
- Five counter-artillery radars;
- Two air surveillance radars;
- 1,000 Javelins and 50 Command Launch Units;
- 6,000 anti-armor weapons;
- 15,000 155mm artillery rounds;
- Four Mi-17 helicopters;
- 15 tactical vehicles;
- Spare parts and equipment.
The United States has now committed approximately $5.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including approximately $4.6 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24.
Ukraine To Use Advanced Rocket Launchers For Defensive Purposes Only: Pentagon
Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times / Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, unveils $700 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington DC June 1, 2022.
Kahl said the rocket launchers are “critical capabilities” to help the Ukrainians repel the Russian offensive in the east. He said they will not be used by Ukraine to strike at targets inside Russia. “One such need is the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which responds to Ukraine’s top priority ask. This system will provide Ukraine with additional precision in targeting at range. The Ukrainians have given us assurances that they will use this system for defensive purposes only,” Kahl said.
MOSCOW Accuses U.S. Of Escalating War With Advanced Rocket Systems to Ukraine
U.S. Sending Ukraine $700 Million in Military Aid Including Advanced Rocket Launcher – YouTube
“President Biden has made clear: we have no intention of coming into direct conflict with Russia. We don’t have an interest in the conflict in Ukraine widening to a broader conflict or evolving into World War Three,” Kahl stated.
“Ukraine is defending their territory, anything they’re doing on the territory of Ukraine is defensive in this context. The formal assurance is that they will not use these systems to target Russian territory. They are defending – they have the right as a sovereign nation to defend their territory. They didn’t start this war, the Russians did. And the Russians are on the offensive. If the Ukrainians are pushing them back from Ukrainian territory, so for example, the Ukrainians made a recent push into Kherson. If they push back along the line of contact in the Donbas, we would consider that defensive.”
Kahn also said the DoD has already re-positioned the HIMARS systems in theater so that the U.S. can deliver them “expeditious” to Ukraine given Russia’s military gains in the Donbas. Kahn said now Russian forces are trying to encircle Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas.
“And the Ukrainians are putting up a heck of a fight. And right now, it’s a concentrated artillery duel in the east. It’s why we put so much emphasis on providing 108 M777 howitzers, and a 200,000 rounds of ammunition. Most of those howitzers are currently in the fight, and they’re helping the Ukrainians a great deal. So, I think we’re not seeing the Ukrainian defenses buckle. They’re hanging on, but it is a grinding fight.”
-Colin H. Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy
