US prepares new $2.2bn military aid package for Ukraine, to include GLSDB missiles for HIMARS and M270 with 150km target range

The US government is preparing another military aid package for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Here's What We Know

This has been reported by the Reuters news agency, citing two US officials. The new aid package will be for $2.2bn. According to the officials, it will include equipment for Patriot SAMs, precision-guided ammunition, as well as Javelin man-portable air defence systems.

In addition, the USA will also transfer to Ukraine long-range GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) missiles for HIMARS and M270 MLRSs. They will enable the Ukrainian Armed Forces to hit targets at a distance of up to 150 km. The US company Boeing, together with the Swedish company SAAB, is manufacturing the missiles. Each GLSDB projectile is a combination of an M26 unguided rocket and a GBU-39/B SDB aerial guided bomb, which weighs around 115 kg. The GLSDB is propelled by the M26 rocket engine and then the GBU-39/B moves towards the target using an integrated GPS paired with an inertial navigation system.

The GLSDB is planned to be transferred through the USAI fund, which allows the US President to take arms from industry rather than military stocks.

The new military aid package is due to be announced as early as this week.

Source: Reuters