An employee handles 155mm shells at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania on April 16. AFP
An employee handles 155mm shells at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania on April 16. AFP
An employee handles 155mm shells at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania on April 16. AFP
An employee handles 155mm shells at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania on April 16. AFP

Which weapons will the US rush to Ukraine?


Thomas Watkins
  • English
  • Arabic

The massive foreign aid bill that President Joe Biden signed into law on Wednesday will help to replenish the Ukrainian military's depleted stocks of weapons and ammunition at a crucial time.

Included in the $61 billion package are big-ticket items such as fighting vehicles, long-range missiles and air defence interceptors.

Experts say they will help Ukraine to avoid defeat against Russia, which invaded in February 2022 and has made territorial gains as US Republicans dithered for six months over providing more funding.

“I'm making sure the shipments start right away,” Mr Biden said.

“In the next few hours – literally in the next few hours – we are going to begin sending in equipment to Ukraine, for air-defence munitions, for artillery for rocket systems, and armoured vehicles.”

A US defence official said the first shipments would be sent by the end of the day, and Ukrainian forces could start to receive aid “within days”.

When and where weapons are distributed will be decided by Kyiv. The $61 billion will be disbursed over a period of months, with an initial $1 billion tranche released on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had been working closely with US officials to work out details of that package to ensure it contained “exactly the weapons that our soldiers need”.

“During recent days we were actively working with our American friends, at all levels, to fill in this package with those weapons our warriors need,” Mr Zelenskyy said in his regular address to the nation.

“We will do everything to compensate that half a year, which was spent in debates and doubts.”

Ukrainian and US officials acknowledged for the first time that the latest US assistance includes the longer-range version of a tactical ballistic missile system known as ATACMS, which Ukraine has long desired in a push to strike deeper into occupied territory.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed to reporters that a "significant number" of the missiles had already been sent to Ukraine under a previous authorisation, and "we will send more."

The missiles were used for the first time in the early hours of April 17, when they were launched against a Russian airfield in Crimea that was about 165km from the Ukrainian front lines.

The longer-range missiles are crucial. Not only can they be used to strike deep inside occupied territory, they can force Russian helicopter bases, logistics centres and fighting forces back from the front lines, reducing Moscow's ability to launch offensives.

“Anything that creates long-range fire is important,” said Dr Jan Kallberg, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis and a fellow at the Army Cyber Institute at West Point.

Ukraine has for months been rationing its artillery ammunition against Moscow's relentless bombardment along front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been making steady gains as they use drones from Iran and missiles and munitions from North Korean.

The defence official told The National that some artillery rounds and missiles are expected to arrive quickly, with larger items such as armoured vehicles taking longer.

But Ukrainian opposition politician Vadym Ivchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament’s national security, defence and intelligence committee, said logistical challenges and bureaucracy could delay shipments to Ukraine by two to three months, and it could be even longer before they reach the front line.

Aside from battlefield impacts, the latest US aid is likely to have a profound effect on Ukrainian troop morale, Dr Kallberg told The National.

“Feeling abandoned is one of the worst things for a soldier's perspective,” he said.

“Feeling like you're stuck and abandoned in a dire spot breaks down morale pretty quick, and this is a direct boost.”

Initial military aid flows to Ukraine included a lot of older equipment from the 1990s, Dr Kallberg noted.

But the weapons in the latest aid package include top-of-the-range gear that the Ukrainians already know how to use, such as the Bradley fighting vehicles that have shown to be effective in taking out Russian tanks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military is now focused on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, with a bombing campaign that Ukrainian and western officials see as an attempt to force the evacuation of civilians.

Weapons wanted by Ukraine – in pictures

  • Air defence: Ukraine’s air defence largely depends on the Patriot system. AFP
    Air defence: Ukraine’s air defence largely depends on the Patriot system. AFP
  • Air: Stinger short-range surface-to-air missile. Reuters
    Air: Stinger short-range surface-to-air missile. Reuters
  • Air: Aim-120 air-to-air missiles. More than 14,000 of the missiles, that have a range exceeding 120km, have been produced with their accuracy so good that they have been nicknamed “Slammer”. Getty Images
    Air: Aim-120 air-to-air missiles. More than 14,000 of the missiles, that have a range exceeding 120km, have been produced with their accuracy so good that they have been nicknamed “Slammer”. Getty Images
  • Air: F-16s will provide greater surveillance and the ability to attack high-value targets behind Russian lines in occupied Ukraine. EPA
    Air: F-16s will provide greater surveillance and the ability to attack high-value targets behind Russian lines in occupied Ukraine. EPA
  • Armour: Bradley IFV. The Ukrainians have found the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, with its 25mm cannon, very useful in protecting troops and providing decent firepower. Bloomberg
    Armour: Bradley IFV. The Ukrainians have found the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, with its 25mm cannon, very useful in protecting troops and providing decent firepower. Bloomberg
  • Armour: M113. The 1960s-designed versatile M113 armoured personnel carrier has proven effective in protecting troops against minefields. Getty Images
    Armour: M113. The 1960s-designed versatile M113 armoured personnel carrier has proven effective in protecting troops against minefields. Getty Images
  • Artillery: 155mm artillery rounds. A massive delivery of 155mm rounds could prove crucial in preventing further Russian advances, particularly in its expected summer offensive. AFP
    Artillery: 155mm artillery rounds. A massive delivery of 155mm rounds could prove crucial in preventing further Russian advances, particularly in its expected summer offensive. AFP
  • Artillery: ATACMs long-range precision missiles. The ATACMS have a range of 300km with the ability to land within a few metres of a target. Getty Images
    Artillery: ATACMs long-range precision missiles. The ATACMS have a range of 300km with the ability to land within a few metres of a target. Getty Images
  • Artillery: Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). It can be fired from the HIMARS system. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
    Artillery: Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). It can be fired from the HIMARS system. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
  • Artillery: M777 guns and replacement barrels. The Ukrainians need many M777 howitzer barrels to replace those worn down by extensive use. Getty Images
    Artillery: M777 guns and replacement barrels. The Ukrainians need many M777 howitzer barrels to replace those worn down by extensive use. Getty Images
Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Company%20profile
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ON%20TRACK
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About Proto21

Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

Brief scores:

Kashima Antlers 0

River Plate 4

Zuculini 24', Martinez 73', 90 2', Borre 89' (pen)

Herc's Adventures

Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The National photo project

Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

TEST SQUADS

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.

Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson and Jackson Bird.

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Company%C2%A0profile
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Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: April 24, 2024, 7:59 PM