Here’s a list of the weapons Biden is sending to Ukraine after months of waiting

On April 24th, Joe Biden signed a foreign aid package bill into law which included $61 billion dollars for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. More importantly, Biden said that weapons would quickly begin shipping to the Ukrainians. 

Biden announced that new security assistance for Ukraine was on its way in the form of an immediate $1 billion package and a Department of Defense noted the package included capabilities needed “to support Ukraine's most urgent requirements.”

The assistance package contained several important weapons that Ukraine badly needed like air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, and anti-tank weapons—as well as a lot of other vital systems. Here’s a full list of what’s being sent.  

The Department of Defense noted that Ukraine will receive more small arms and ammunition, including .50 caliber rounds to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces counter Russian unmanned aerial vehicles. 

Ukraine will also be getting more ammunition for its American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). These weapons have proven to be very useful in the war. 

Kyiv is in desperate need of artillery shells. Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksij Reznikov noted in March 2023 that Ukraine needed 356,400 shells a month according to Defense One. The artillery ammunition on its way to Ukraine will also include high Explosive and Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions rounds.

105mm artillery rounds are key to Ukrainian success on the battlefield. The United States has previously provided Ukraine with 72 weapon systems that can fire this type of shell and Washington has given more than 800,000 105mm shells to Kyiv, according to the U.S. State Department. 

The United States has previously supplied Ukraine with 58 60mm mortar guns and more than 400,000 rounds.

Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles have also proven to be an effective weapons system in Ukraine. In January 2024, Forbes journalist David Axe called the Bradley “the best fighting vehicle of the Ukraine war,” noting that they had better protection, firepower, and optics than Russian vehicles. 

More than 1,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) have been sent to Ukraine by the United States since Russia launched its invasion of the country in February 2022. 

More than 3,000 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles have also been supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces since the conflict began. 

The United States has sent Ukraine a relatively small number of logistics support vehicles with only 20 having been supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces according to the U.S. State Department. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By U.S. Navy photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Christopher, Public Domain

More than 1,000 tactical vehicles to tow and haul equipment have been shipped to Ukraine since the war began as well as 131 tactical vehicles to recover equipment. 

“The TOW missile enables ground forces to achieve overmatch against adversary armored and wheeled systems, regardless of the environment or conditions,” according to its manufacturer Raytheon.

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Lance Cpl. Samantha Barajas, Public Domain

In February 2023, CNN’s Brad Lendon reported that the American-made Javelin missile was among one of the three weapons systems that changed the course of the war in Ukraine. 

Precision aerial munitions, Airfield support equipment, Anti-armor mines, Claymore anti-personnel munitions, demolition munitions for obstacle clearing, Night vision devices, Spare parts, field equipment, training munitions, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment were also included in the $1 billion security package. 

While the $1 billion dollar air package will help Ukraine meet some of its current major challenges, it is just the first step in a larger aid plan that will help Kyiv and its armed forces defend Ukraine from Russia's attempts to conquer the country.