Earlier this week, Ukraine announced the arrival of the NASAMS air defense system from the United States. Washington is now announcing the delivery of another anti-aircraft weapon - including ammunition.
The United States is delivering the AVENGER mobile air defense system to Ukraine for the first time as part of new military aid worth 400 million US dollars. The US Department of Defense announced the delivery of four AVENGER systems and associated Stinger missiles. The US is also supplying Kyiv with rockets for the HAWK air defense systems that Spain has pledged to Ukraine, ammunition for HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery ammunition, grenade launchers and more than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said additional anti-aircraft capabilities are paramount given Russia's "brutal air strikes on civilian and critical infrastructure in Ukraine." The new aid package brings US military aid to Ukraine to more than $18.6 billion since Russia's war of aggression against the country began in late February.
The AVENGER system is used as a mobile, short-range anti-aircraft defense system against missiles, drones and low-flying aircraft and has been in service with the US Armed Forces since 1989. The system consists of an all-terrain vehicle on which a missile turret is mounted. This has two launchers for Stinger missiles. To better acquire targets, it can be linked to an external reconnaissance system.
US President Joe Biden promised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in October that Washington would provide Ukraine with advanced air defense systems. Earlier this week, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced the arrival of the first shipment of the NASAMS defense system. He thanked Norway and the US for the delivery. "These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army and make our skies safer."
NASAMS consists of Norwegian control facilities and US-made surface-to-air missiles. The weapon system can hit up to 72 targets simultaneously. Their missiles have a range of 25 kilometers. The US has announced that it will deliver more NASAMS to Ukraine. However, these have yet to be produced, which is why Washington is considering sending Cold War-era HAWK systems in the meantime.
