Britain announced on Wednesday that it was donating cutting-edge anti-aircraft missiles capable of shooting down cruise missiles
By Joe Barnes, BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT andDominic Nicholls, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
13 October 2022
Britain announced on Wednesday night that it was donating cutting-edge anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine that are capable of shooting down cruise missiles for the first time.
The advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) rockets will be usable with the US-provided Nasams systems, which are due to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, said: “Russia’s latest indiscriminate strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine warrant further support to those seeking to defend their nation. So today I have authorised the supply of AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.
“These weapons will help Ukraine defend its skies from attacks and strengthen their overall missile defence alongside the US NASAMS.”
It came as France also announced it was sending air-defence and radar systems in the coming weeks, in particular to help Ukraine protect itself from Russian drones.
“We’re going to deliver… radars, systems and missiles to protect them from these attacks,” President Emmanuel Macron told France 2 television.
France does have the SAMP/T (Mamba) surface-to-air defence system, although quite how many it could provide is unclear. It deployed one such system to Romania in May.
Vladimir Putin’s aerial bombardment of Ukrainian city centres earlier this week has prompted Kyiv to make securing Western air-defence systems its main priority.
But Nato countries are struggling to secure enough air-defence systems to protect Ukraine’s skies, Western officials have warned, amid fears Kyiv will remain vulnerable to more Russian missile barrages.
At a Nato meeting on Wednesday to decide on future military support for the war-torn country, Jens Stoltenberg, its secretary-general, agreed that creating a protective shield over Ukraine was a “top priority”.
In recent days, Putin’s forces have pummelled civilian targets in busy city centres across Ukraine after an unexplained explosion collapsed a section of the Kerch bridge between Russia and Crimea.
On Wednesday, the first of four German Iris-T systems promised by Berlin arrived in the country, while the Netherlands vowed to deliver €15 million worth of missiles to bolster Kyiv’s defences. The US also said it was speeding up delivery of eight of its most advanced National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. But the pledges look likely to fall short of Ukrainian demands.
Paris has previously supplied Mistral shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.
The simplest form of air-defence weapons, which Ukraine has already received, are fired by individual soldiers on the battlefield, or from rooftops in built-up areas.
The most sophisticated systems are linked to radars that can detect incoming threats from multiple miles away. Missiles are then directed on to the approaching threat, even if it manoeuvres in flight.
Missile batteries have to be used sparingly and grouped with similar weapons to ensure a layered system capable of defending against the majority of threats.
Ukraine is demanding Nato countries help create a shield over the country like the Israeli Iron Dome system.
But the Israeli system is optimised for less sophisticated missiles fired by Hezbollah fighters, and is occasionally penetrated, particularly if faced with multiple incoming rockets.
Small “bubbles” of defended areas must be placed around key sites instead, with commanders and politicians having to choose the most valuable areas to be protected.
Ukraine has received shipments of multiple British systems, such as Sky Sabre, which can intercept 24 targets at once, with the radar located up to 15km away for safety.
Sources at Nato meetings on Wednesday said increased coverage in Ukraine was being hampered by production issues and fears that donating air-defence systems would leave Nato’s skies undefended.
Germany and France both warned that it was not possible to completely protect Ukraine without putting the defence of their own countries in jeopardy. One source described it as a “difficult line to walk” for Nato allies.
Washington has been internally criticised for offering to ship its most complicated systems, such as the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, to Kyiv.
Arms manufacturers used by Nato members are said to not have the industrial capacity, logistical network or stockpiles to provide Kyiv with sufficient systems.
The Telegraph understands that, in private discussions, Nato officials have expressed concerns that many of their members are still awaiting deliveries of their own air-defence systems, which could take years.
Mr Stoltenberg said Nato would need to address its “long-term production capacity” for such systems, and other Western weapons: “So we can produce more weapons, more ammunition, more of the capabilities we need, both to ensure our own deterrence and defence, but also to continue to provide support to Ukraine.”
“Countries have already provided some, but there is a shortage of production capacity,” an official told the FT.
Among Nato’s more frugal members, Germany and France, there are also fears that they might over-order weapons for Ukraine.
It was stressed in one recent meeting of officials at the military alliance that 100 pieces of kit could be ordered, with 20 sent to Kyiv and the rest left to rot.
Nato defence ministers are also due to discuss the nuclear threat posed by Putin, after suggestions by the Russian president he would authorise strikes if his perceived territory is hit by Ukraine.
Mr Stoltenberg reaffirmed the alliance would carry out a nuclear deterrence exercise next week despite the ultimatum.
“We have seen the speculation about the use of low-yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine and we have conveyed clearly to Russia that this will have severe consequences. The nuclear rhetoric and the veiled threats from Russia are dangerous and reckless,” he said.
A Russian nuclear attack would “almost certainly be drawing a physical response from many allies, and potentially from Nato itself,” a senior official added.
That’s great! Much more needed now
However, it’s now at least a year since Five Eyes intel was screaming : putler is going to launch a full scale invasion, murder the government and inflict subjugation on Ukrainians with maximum violence.
Since the Budapest signatories had already disgracefully decided at that time that they would not send ground troops, or provide air or sea support to Ukraine, the very least they could have done was immediately start installing cutting edge air defences for them, providing large numbers of MLRS’s, drones, anti-tank weaponry, sniper rifles, tanks, fighter planes and a whole range of armour.
They did none of those things and waited until the last minute. Since then, they slowly drip-fed Ukraine with some, but far from all that the defenders requested.
When putler’s Holocaust is finally ended, the allies need to fund and provide everything that Ukraine needs in order to ensure that any future putler Holocaust is impossible.
That means ensuring that Ukraine has one of the largest and best equipped armies in the world, a modern air force, a navy and a nuclear deterrent.
The Budapest signatories in return can have the contracts to pull out the Ukraine’s soil all the many mineral deposits that will make Ukraine wealthy.
“the very least they could have done was immediately start installing cutting edge air defences for them, providing large numbers of MLRS’s, drones, anti-tank weaponry, sniper rifles, tanks, fighter planes and a whole range of armour.”
~Absolutely, with the knowledge that U.S. and UK were not going to go in with their own forces Ukraine’s air defense should have been a top priority.
Looking at just military provisions:
From United Kingdom:
Trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops since 2015 as part of Operation Orbital.[455] This operation was suspended following the full-scale Russian invasion; a new British-led multinational operation commenced on 9 July 2022 as part of Operation Interflex.[456]
Sale of two Sandown-class minehunters.[457]
£1.7 billion sterling agreement to support the acquisition of eight missile craft and one frigate.[458]
Deployment of RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft to provide information on size and position of Russian forces.[459]
ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance) support, both standalone and in partnership with the United States.[460]
Delivered “thousands” of NLAW anti-armour weapons and Javelin anti-tank missiles.[461] The total amount was stated to be over 6,500 as of 3 June 2022.[462]
£25 million in financial backing for the Ukrainian military.[463]
Unspecified further military aid, on 28 February 2022.[464]
Unspecified number of Javelin anti-tank missiles, on 10 March 2022.[465]
The UK announced a further 6,000 defensive missiles will be sent to Ukraine, on 24 March 2022.[466]
Starstreak man-portable air-defense systems.[467]
UK announced the supply of an unspecified amount of “armoured vehicles and long-range artillery” to Ukraine, on 31 March 2022,[468] on 9 April a figure of 120 armoured vehicles was given along with an unspecified number of anti-ship missiles.[469] A 14 April interview gave the following partial breakdown:[470]
40 CVR(T) derived vehicles including the Stormer HVM SHORAD,[471] FV104 Samaritan armoured ambulance, FV106 Samson armoured recovery vehicle & FV107 Scimitar Tracked Recon Vehicle.
35 FV103 Spartan APCs.
80 protected mobility vehicles including Mastiff protected patrol vehicles, Wolfhound heavy tactical support vehicles and Husky light tactical support vehicles.
British Army donates 84,000 helmets to Ukraine.[472]
UK announced an additional £100 million in military aid, on 8 April. This includes further Starstreak missiles, 800 NLAW,[473] Javelin anti-tank missiles and precision loitering munitions. Further military helmets, nightvision equipment and body armour will be provided on top of 200,000 pieces of non-lethal military equipment supplied so far.[474]
UK announced further unspecified amount of lethal military aid to Ukraine on 23 April. “The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK is providing more defensive military aid, including protected mobility vehicles, drones and anti-tank weapons.”[475]
The UK announced a further £300 million in military aid to Ukraine. Boris Johnson made this announcement in a videolink address to the Rada, on the 3 May.[476]
Electronic warfare equipment.
Counter battery radar.
GPS Jammers.
‘Thousands’ of Night Vision devices.
13 bulletproof Babcock Toyota Landcruiser for civilian officials such as mayors and evacuation operations.[477]
Heavy lift cargo drones.
The UK has been supplying an unspecified number of British made Brimstone missiles into Ukraine.[478]
The UK announced a further £1 billion in military support to Ukraine. The total sum was £1.3 billion (US$1.6 billion), however, this included the £300 million that was pledged on 3 May.[479]
30 March, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provided £20 million to the Ukrainian Armed Forces for salaries through a deposit in the National Bank of Ukraine, followed by a further £5 million on 18 May[480]
6 June, the United Kingdom confirmed it would provide an unspecified number of M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System along with M31A1 ammunition and provide training to the Ukrainian operators in the UK.[481]
16 June, confirmed 20 used M109 howitzer ad been bought from a Belgian arms dealer, refurbished and partially delivered to Ukraine.[482]
17 June, the UK offered to set up and administer a program to provide three weeks general infantry, first aid, cyber security, and counter explosive tactics training to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers every four months hosted by a neighbouring country.[483] This would better equip Ukraine to replace battlefield casualties.
27 June, From this week, 200 Ukrainian soldiers are set to arrive in the UK every day to receive training from the UK’s Armed Forces, the Chief of the Defence Staff said.[484]
28 June, during the NATO summit in Madrid the UK committed to providing Ukraine a further £1 billion of military support towards the acquisition of “sophisticated” Air Defence Systems, Electronic Warfare Equipment, Drones and Ammunition for Long Range Rocket Artillery.[485][486]
29 June, The UK has facilitated the transfer of 3 Norwegian MLRS systems. The Norwegian systems will need upgrading, so the UK will receive and upgrade the Norwegian MLRS pieces, to backfill upgraded British pieces already being sent to Ukraine.[487]
30 June, The UK revealed it had been training hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers on British Artillery Systems on Salisbury Plain (UK). The UK also stated it had purchased 50 L119 Howitzers from a British company and will be deploying these weapons to Ukraine imminently.[488] The New Zealand Army has deployed personnel who are training Ukrainian soldiers on L119 artillery pieces in the UK (see NZ entry above).
On the 21 July British Secretary of Defence, Ben Wallance, announced the UK will send “50,000 artillery shells, counter-battery radar systems and hundreds of drones” and “scores” of artillery guns over the coming weeks along with 1,600 anti-tank weapons.[489]
20 M109 155mm self-propelled guns;
36 L119 105mm artillery guns; and
50,000 of rounds for Ukraine’s Soviet era artillery.[490]
11 August The UK confirmed it was delivering an additional three M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and M31A1 rockets,[491] the previous day Ukraine had announced that the equipment had been received.
24 August UK announced a £54m package including 850 Black Hornet Nano drones, 200 surveillance drones and ~1000 anti-tank loitering munitions.[492] (See also the Norwegian announcement the same day)
27 August the British MoD announced it would provide six mine hunting UUVs to Ukraine along with training Ukrainian naval personnel in their use.
From United States of America:
Trained Ukrainian troops since April 2015 as part of JMTG-U (Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine) [522]
US$5 million of non-lethal military equipment on 4 June 2014.[523][524][525]
$75 million of non-lethal military equipment on 11 March 2015.
$560 million on 12 May 2017 via the 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act.[529]
$350 million on 12 December 2017 via the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.[530]
Light weapons export license approved on 13 December 2017.[531]
$47 million of lethal weapons, including 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles, on 1 March 2018.[532]
$250 million of security aid, including $50 million in lethal weapons,[533] on 12 September 2019.[534][535][536]
$250 million of lethal military equipment on 11 June 2020.[537][538]
$600 million of security aid, including 16 Mark VI patrol boats, on 17 June 2020.
90 tons[clarification needed] of lethal military equipment on 22 January 2021.[541][542]
$125 million of lethal military equipment on 1 March 2021.[543][544]
$150 million of lethal military equipment on 11 June 2021.[545][546]
$60 million of lethal military equipment on 1 September 2021.[547][548][549]
$350 million of lethal military equipment, on 25 February 2022.[550][551][552]
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba of unspecified further military aid, on 1 March 2022.[553][554]
$200 million of arms and equipment, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, on 12 March 2022.[555]
The White House said that before 16 March 2022, aid sent by the US included:[556]
600 Stinger systems
About 2,600 Javelin missiles
Five Mil Mi-17 helicopters
Three patrol boats
Four counter-artillery and counter-unmanned aerial system tracking radars
Four counter-mortar radar systems
200 grenade launchers and ammunition
200 shotguns
200 machine guns
Nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition
Over 1 million grenade, mortar and artillery rounds
70 Humvees and other vehicles
Unspecified amounts of secure communications, electronic warfare detection systems, body armor, helmets and other tactical gear, military medical equipment, explosive ordnance disposal and demining equipment
Satellite imagery and analysis capability.
$800 million in military equipment announced on 16 March 2022, funded from the $13.6 billion in aid signed on 15 March. The package includes:[557]
2,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles
1,000 light anti-armor weapons
6,000 AT4 anti-armor systems
800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems
100 Switchblade drones[558]
100 grenade launchers
5,000 rifles
1,000 pistols
400 machine guns
400 shotguns
Over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition, grenade launcher rounds and mortar rounds
25,000 sets of body armor
25,000 helmets
Laser-Guided Rockets
$800 million of lethal military equipment, on 13 April 2022:[559][560]
18 M777 howitzers calibre 155 mm and 40,000 rounds of artillery ammunition
11 Mi-17 military helicopters[561]
200 armoured personnel carriers
‘counter-artillery radars’.[562][563]
$800m military package was announced 21 April completing the drawdown from the $13.6bn military and humanitarian funding envelope approved by Congress 15 March[564]
72 M777 155 mm towed howitzer with 144,000 rounds of ammunition[564]
72 artillery towing vehicles
121 Phoenix Ghost tactical drones, a reduced capability alternative to the Switchblade quickly designed for export to Ukraine.[565]
5 May the California National Guard had announced it had donated 4,320 ballistic vests, 1,580 helmets and facilitated the delivery of 7 medical field stations to Ukraine.[566] 6 May another military package was announced worth $150 million:[567]
25,000 155mm artillery shells
Counter artillery radars
Jamming equipment
Spare parts[568]
19 May 2022, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to an additional $100 million:[569]
18 155mm Howitzers;
18 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
3 AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars; and
Field equipment and spare parts.
1 June 2022 another military package was announced worth $700 million High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and ammunition;
Four M142 HIMARS and ammunition
Five counter-artillery radars
Two air surveillance radars
1,000 Javelin missiles and 50 Command Launch Units
6,000 anti-armour weapons
15,000 155 millimetre artillery rounds,
Four Mi-17 helicopters
15 tactical vehicles
Spare parts and equipment [570][571]
15 June 2022 the twelfth military package was announced worth $1 billion;
18 155mm M777 howitzer howitzers
18 tactical vehicles for towing howitzers
36,000 155mm artillery shells
Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems
Four tactical recovery vehicles
Spare parts and other equipment
Two Harpoon coastal defence launchers without ammunition
Thousands of military radios
Thousands of night vision equipment and optics
Funding for training, maintenance, sustainment, transportation, and administrative costs [572]
23 June 2022 thirteenth military package was announced worth $450 million;
Four additional M142 HIMARS
36,000 105mm artillery shells
18 artillery towing tactical vehicles
1,200 grenade launchers
2000 machine guns
Two Small unit riverine craft
10 Sea Ark Dauntless-class patrol boats
Six 40-foot maritime combat craft
Spare parts and other equipment [573][574]
1 July the United States government announced the 14th aid package for Ukraine including:
“Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)”;
“Two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)”;
“Up to 150,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition”; and
“Four additional counter-artillery radars.” Some total $820 million in total.[575]
8 July the United States announced their 15th aid package valued at $400 million, the package includes:
4 additional M142 HIMARS (bringing the number of HIMARS pledged to Ukraine to 12).
Additional HIMARS ammunition.
Additional 155mm artillery shells including “A new type [of] 155 mm artillery ammunition,” A senior U.S. official said these shells offer a “greater precision” than ordinary shells. Not confirming if they M982 Excalibur the official said: “It offers Ukraine precise capability for specific targets. It will save ammunition. It will be more effective due to the precision.” [576]
“Three tactical trucks”
“Counter-battery systems”
“Demolition munitions” [577]
22 July 2022 the United States government announced their 16th aid package valued at $270 million consisting of:
Four additional M142 HIMARS with ammunition, bring the number pledged to 16.
Four command post vehicles.
36,000 105mm artillery shells.
Up to 580 Phoenix Ghost loitering drones.
Additional anti-armour weapons of unknown model or quantity.
Additional spare parts and other equipment.[578]
1 August 2022, the US has announced the 17th aid package for Ukraine, valued at $550 million. Including 75,000 rounds of 155mm and more HIMARS ammunition.[579]
8 August 2022 the US DoD announced the 18th military aid package for Ukraine:
Additional HIMARS ammunition
75,000 155mm artillery shells
20 120mm mortars
20,000 120mm mortar rounds
Munitions for the NASAMS
1,000 Javelin and “hundreds” of AT4 anti armour weapons
Claymore mines
C-4 explosives, demolitions munitions and demolition equipment
50 armoured medical vehicles
Medical supplies, to include first aid kits, bandages, monitors, and other equipment.[580]
20 August 2022 the US DoD announced the 19th military aid package for Ukraine:
Additional ammunition for HIMARS
16 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds
15 Scan Eagle UAVs
40 International MaxxPro MRAP vehicles with mine rollers
Additional high speed anti-radiation missiles
50 armoured Humvee vehicles
1,500 BGM-71 TOW missiles
1,000 Javelin anti armour systems
2,000 “anti armour rounds”
Mine clearing equipment and systems
Demolitions munitions
Tactical secure communications systems
Night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders.[581]
The Pentagon has also confirmed that Ukraine has been supplied with AGM-88 HARM at an unknown date after wreckage was found near a Russian position.[582]
24 August a $2.98bn package through the Foreign Military Sales process was announced for Ukraine to purchase military hardware from manufacturers, including:
Air defense systems.
Artillery systems and munitions.
Counter-unmanned aerial systems, and radars. These purchases will come directly from US manufacturers with deliveries over a two-year period. Unlike previous donations which were mostly from existing US military stocks this will be for freshly manufactured equipment.[583]
8 September 2022 the US DoD announced the 20th military aid package to Ukraine:
Additional ammunition for HIMARS
Four 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds
Additional High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARM)
100 Armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV)
1.5 million rounds of small arms ammunition
More than 5,000 anti-armor systems
1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems
Additional grenade launchers and small arms
50 armoured medical treatment vehicles#
Night vision devices and other field equipment.[584]
15 September 2022 the US DoD announced the 21st military aid package to Ukraine:
Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
36,000 105mm artillery rounds
1,000 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
Four counter-artillery radars
Four trucks and eight trailers to transport heavy equipment;
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems
Mine clearing equipment
Claymore anti-personnel munitions
Demolition munitions and equipment
Small arms and ammunition
Night vision devices, cold weather gear, and other field equipment[585]
28 September 2022 the US DoD announced a military aid package worth $1.1 billion for Ukraine:
18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems
additional ammunition for HIMARs
150 HMMWV vehicles
150 “Tactical vehicles” for towing weapons
40 trucks and 80 trailers to transport heavy equipment
Two UAS radars
20 Multi-mission radars
Counter UAS systems
Tactical secure communications systems, surveillance systems, and optic
Explosive ordnance disposal equipment
Body armour and other field equipment
Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.[586]
4 October 2022 the US DoD announced the 22nd military aid package for Ukraine valued at $625 million:
Four HIMAR systems with additional rockets
16 155mm howitzers
75,000 155mm artillery shells
500 Precision guided artillery shells
1,000 Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) shells
16 105mm howitzers
30,000 120mm mortar rounds
200 International MaxxPro MRAP vehicles
200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
Obstacle emplacement equipment
Claymore anti-personnel munitions.
Still both United States and United Kingdom could’ve and should’ve done more way earlier. In my opinion both countries should have gone in with air, sea, and ground troops, waving Article 5 of N.A.T.O for themselves in this case.
And another thing on current air defense needs U.S. should immediately suspend air defense systems headed to Saudi Arabia, as well as the U.A.E. recall stationed air defense and redirect them to Ukraine.