US to fund refurbishment of tanks, anti-air missiles for Ukraine

The United States will fund the refurbishment of T-72 tanks and HAWK surface-to-air missiles as part of a roughly $400 million security assistance package for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Air defence and armour capabilities are both high on the list of assistance desired by Ukraine, but the T-72s fall short of more modern tanks such as the German Leopard or US Abrams that have been sought by Kyiv.

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The “tanks are coming from the Czech Republic defence industry, and the United States is paying for 45 of those to be refurbished, and the government of the Netherlands is matching our commitment” for a total of 90 T-72s, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told journalists.

The T-72s – a Soviet-era tank – will be equipped with “advanced optics, communications and armor packages,” with some ready by the end of December and others to be delivered in 2023, she said.

Asked why more modern tanks were not being provided, Singh cited factors including ease of use and cost.

“These are tanks that the Ukrainians know how to use on the battlefield,” she said, adding that “introducing a new main battle tank is extremely costly, is time sensitive, and it would be a huge undertaking for the Ukrainian forces.”

The package also funds the refurbishment of HAWK missiles from US inventories – an important asset as Ukraine seeks to counter Russian drone and missile strikes targeting its cities and energy infrastructure.

Singh declined to specify how many of the missiles were being refurbished, citing security concerns. 

Drones, boats, infrastructure

Spain previously agreed to provide four of the medium-range HAWK air defense systems to Ukraine – part of international efforts to assemble a patchwork of various surface-to-air capabilities to help the country defend against strikes.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan acknowledged the urgency of the air defence issue on Friday in Kyiv, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials.

“We recognise the acute need for air defence in this critical moment when Russia and Russian forces are raining missiles and Iranian drones down on the civilian infrastructure of this country,” Sullivan told a news conference.

The US assistance package also includes 1,100 Phoenix Ghost drone systems, as well as 40 armoured boats and the refurbishment of 250 M1117 armoured vehicles, among other items.

It falls under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds procurement of equipment from the defense industry, rather than taking items directly from existing military stocks.

The latest assistance brings Washington’s total commitment of security aid to Ukraine to more than $18.2 billion since Russia invaded in late February.

In addition to security assistance, the United States is examining options to address infrastructure damage from Russian strikes, which Zelensky said Thursday had left millions without power.

“We are looking to try to see what we can do in the short term to help Ukraine repair the damage done, particularly to their electrical infrastructure, the grid itself,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists.

Washington is working with other countries on spare parts and technical assistance as well as the provision of fuel to help Ukraine during the coming winter, Kirby added.

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by W.G. Dunlop