The weapons the U.S. and allies are providing to Ukraine

The United States has donated more than $ 2 billion in security assistance Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, with about a billion dollars just last week, then Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a passionate plea for more of Congress, asking for more defensive help as his country struggles to fight the Russian invasion.

There are some items that Ukrainians want that the US cannot provide, either due to lack of inventory or the risk of provoking a wider war.

“No-fly zone”

Zelensky has called on the United States to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine to reduce the Russian bombing that continues to devastate the country. A no-fly zone would require US forces to control airspace over Ukraine, which would almost certainly lead to a direct conflict between the US and Russia. President Biden has drawn a red line that no American force will fight in Ukraine.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his trip to Europe this week, said there is no “flight ban zone light.” If the U.S. establishes a no-fly zone, it means the U.S. is in conflict with Russia, he said.

MiG-29 fighter jets

In the absence of a no-fly zone, Ukrainians are looking for other ways to help defend their skies, such as fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots are trained to fly Soviet-era fighter jets, including MiG-29 fighter jets. Some former Warsaw Pact countries, such as Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria, have these aircraft in their inventories. The Polish government announced earlier this month that it was ready to transfer its MiG-29s to the US at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, where the US could transfer the planes to Ukraine. But the Biden administration rejected the idea that flying planes from a US base in Germany could be seen by Russia as an escalation of the conflict. Members of the US Congress continue to push for Ukraine to somehow get the MiG-29s.

S-300 air defense system

The S-300 surface-to-air missile system is capable of shooting down aircraft and cruise missiles. It is a Russian-made air defense system, so the US does not have it in its inventory. But there are NATO countries, such as Slovakia, Greece and Bulgaria, that have such systems.

Slovakia’s defense minister said this week that Slovakia would be willing to give the Ukrainians an S-300 system immediately if it receives a US or other NATO ally filling system. The US has just said it has no ads to make. Germany and the Netherlands have since said they would provide a Patriot air defense system in Slovakia to fill the gap left by the S-300.

The military aid that the US is providing

Javelines

The United States has provided more than 7,000 Javelin anti-tank systems in Ukraine, according to the White House. The Javelin’s hallmark is its superior attack capability: the missile flies 150 meters in the air and then hits the tank from the top, where the armor is the thinnest. The Javelin is a shoulder-mounted weapon that forces can carry with them. This missile system is considered a “fire and forget” weapon because it uses the infrared guide to find the target as soon as it is fired so that the operator can move immediately after launch or be prepared to fire. another.

Stinger anti-aircraft systems

The Stinger is a portable surface-to-air missile system designed to go after aircraft. The range of the Stinger missile can target planes and helicopters flying below 13,000 feet. Like the Javelin, the Stinger is a “fire and forget” system that uses an infrared guide to approach a target. According to the White House, the United States has provided Ukrainians with about 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems. The Stinger rose to fame in the 1980s, when the CIA provided the weapon to the Multichidins in Afghanistan, giving them an effective means of attacking Soviet aircraft.

Tactical unmanned aerial systems

In its most recent aid announcement in Ukraine, the Biden administration listed “100 tactical unmanned aerial systems” or drones. U.S. officials have told CBS News that the specific drones are AeroVironment’s Switchblade drones. Drones are considered “kamikaze drones” because they explode after hitting the target. There are two versions, the Switchblade 300, which is designed to chase personnel, and the Switchblade 600, which chases armored equipment such as tanks.

Other US aid

In addition to the various previous systems, the Biden administration in its latest $ 800 million assistance package is providing Ukraine:

• 100 grenade launchers

• 5,000 rifles

• 1,000 pistols

• 400 machine guns

• 400 shotguns

• More than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launchers and mortar

• 25,000 sets of body shields

• 25,000 helmets