Air defence focus in latest US military package for Ukraine

Ground-based air defence systems have emerged as a primary focus for the US Government’s military equipment assistance for Ukraine, with the latest package announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) committing significant funding for Patriot and NASAMs surface-to-air interceptors.

In a 3 July 2024, release, the US DoD stated that it would fund the provision of Patriot and NASAMs air defence interceptors using approximately $2.2bn in Ukraine Security Assistance Funding (USAI), a separate delivery mechanism from the usual Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which pulls equipment from US stockpiles.

In the DoD announcement, it was stated that the administration of US President Joe Biden would “accelerate delivery of these munitions by re-sequencing upcoming Foreign Military Sales deliveries for Ukraine” in order to provide the much-need air defence systems for Ukraine.

As a result, Ukraine will be provided with the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure against Russia’s aerial attacks, the DoD said.

The PDA package is the Biden Administration’s sixtieth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

In addition, DoD announced a PDA package worth $150m for capabilities such as artillery and other indirect fires, and anti-tank munitions.

Specifically, system in the PDA package include missiles for HAWK air defense systems; ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; 81mm mortar rounds; Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armour systems; as well as small arms ammunition, grenades, and other equipment.

Russia targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure

The provision of air defence systems has become of critical importance to Ukraine, which is on the defensive across the frontline as Russia continues its summer offensive in a bid to secure strategic gains ahead of an expected winter lull.

A key Russia tactic, both during the summer and autumn of 2023 as well as this year, has been to target Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure in a bid to reduce the provision of basic services such as power and other utilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his call for more air defence systems on 28 June 2024, with Western officials understood to recognise the critical need for such capabilities.

Russia has gained ground in recent months, securing a number of tactical victories as it looks to make ground ahead of the US election in November which could see the return to power of former President Donald Trump, amid Western fears he could limit or withdraw US support for Ukraine.