The Defense Department intends to fund a $1.3 billion military aid package that will procure weapons from defense contractors to be sent to Ukraine, including air defense systems and critical munitions.
The package, funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, includes:
Unlike presidential “drawdown” authority that directly transfers U.S. equipment to Ukraine, the USAI fund procures weapons from defense contractors that are sometimes not scheduled for delivery for months or even years.
“This USAI package highlights the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraine's pressing requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities while also building the enduring capacity of Ukraine's Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the mid and long term,” DOD said. “This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine.”