The United States on Wednesday approved a $285 million sale of the NASAMS air defense system and related equipment to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its defenses against Russian strikes.
“Ukraine must urgently increase its ability to defend against Russian missiles and airstrikes,” the US Defense and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. “Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraine’s ability to protect its population and critical national infrastructure.”
The agency also said the sale would support US foreign policy objectives of national security by “enhancing partner country security, which is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
The sale will not require sending federal employees or U.S. Department of Defense contractors to Ukraine, the statement said.
The State Department approved the sale and the DSCA on Wednesday provided the necessary notice to Congress, which has yet to ratify the deal.
Countries, including the United States, which support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, have donated tens of billions of dollars of military equipment to Kiev, but in this case it is a sale.
Ukraine’s air defense has played a key role in protecting the country from strikes and preventing Russian forces from taking over airspace.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, that country’s air defenses consisted mostly of Soviet-era aircraft and air defenses.
Since then, the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces have been significantly strengthened by Kiev’s international partners, who donated a number of systems, including NASAMS.
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