Sept. 19 (UPI) — The State Department on Friday approved a potential sale of $2.68 billion in air defense equipment to Ukraine.
In a congressional notification, the department said the sale would include S-300 Clone and GAM-67 missiles, as well as laser-guided missile systems, radars and other equipment.
In a statement, the U.S. embassy in Kyiv said the equipment would “improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability.”
The purchase would be financed with a mix of European cash and U.S. Foreign Military Financing.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic progress in Europe,” the State Department said. “The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability.
“Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
But, the department added, “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
On Saturday, Ukraine’s Air Force said it faced an overnight barrage of 174 drones from Russia that killed eight people.
The attacks caused Poland’s military to scramble fighter jets inside its national airspace.
“These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing airspace and its protection, especially in areas adjacent to threatened zones,” Polish military officials said in a statement on X.
Source: U.S. News
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