The United States on Friday announced an additional $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, including the refurbishment of T-72 tanks and missiles for HAWK air defense systems for Kiev.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters the US would pay for the refurbishment of 45 Czech Republic T-72 tanks and finance the refurbishment of some missiles for HAWK air defense systems.
Singh said that in addition to funds to refurbish the HAWK missiles, the $400 million pledged from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) would refurbish Soviet-era Czech tanks and give them “advanced optics, communications and armor packages.” .
There was also funding to purchase 1,100 Phoenix Tactical Phantom Unmanned Aerial Systems and 40 Armored River Boats, among other capabilities.
In October, Reuters first wrote about the initiative to supply HAWK interceptor missiles to Ukraine. They would be an upgrade to the Stinger missile systems – the smallest, shortest-range air defense system – that the United States has already deployed to stop the Russian invasion.
Once HAWK air defense missiles are refurbished, they could be included in the future Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the United States to transfer defense items and services from stockpiles quickly without congressional approval in response to an emergency. Singh declined to provide a timeline.
Source: CNN Brasil
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