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Ghost drones, helicopters and howitzers: Here is a have a look at the weapons the U.S. is sending Ukraine


A Soldier conducts registration and calibration for the M777A2 howitzer weapon system in Syria, Sept. 30, 2021.

U.S. Military Spc. Isaiah Scott | U.S. Military

WASHINGTON — From heavy artillery to tactical drones to armored autos, the U.S. has offered $3.4 billion in weapons to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion two months in the past.

The most recent navy help package deal of $800 million, which is the eighth installment of help, comes after eight weeks of battle and as Russian forces put together for a renewed combat within the east and south of Ukraine.

Here is a have a look at the weapons the U.S. has dedicated to the combat to date.

Drones

AeroVironment Switchblade 600 Drone

Courtesy: AeroVironment

Included within the newest safety package deal, are 121 tactical unmanned aerial techniques dubbed “Phoenix Ghost” drones.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated Thursday that the drones have been “quickly developed by the Air Power, in response, particularly to Ukrainian necessities.”

“It gives comparable capabilities to the Switchblade sequence of unmanned techniques, comparable capabilities however not precise. There are different variations within the scope of functionality for the Phoenix Ghosts, however I am simply not going to have the ability to get into extra element about these capabilities proper now,” Kirby stated.

The drones are manufactured by Aevex Aerospace in Solana Seashore, Calif., and are presently within the U.S. Air Power arsenal. As soon as the drones are within the area, U.S. troops should practice Ukrainian forces on tips on how to function them, Kirby instructed reporters throughout a day by day press briefing. He didn’t present a timeline for when the drones would arrive within the area.

The U.S. has additionally dedicated no less than 300 Switchblade drones manufactured by U.S.-based agency AeroVironment. There are two variants of the weapon, the Switchblade 300 and the 600. It was not instantly clear which model the U.S. deployed to Ukraine.

Every Switchblade is designed to be a single-use or a “kamikaze” drone.

The 300 variant is designed to strike small targets. It could possibly slot in a rucksack, weighs a little bit over 5 kilos and has a spread of 10 miles. The 600 model of the weapon is designed to destroy tanks and different armored autos. It weighs barely greater than 120 kilos and has a spread of greater than 40 miles.

Armored and tactical autos

U.S. Military Troopers, assigned to Bravo Firm, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, have interaction a goal from a M113A2 armored automobile throughout squad maneuver coaching at Grafenwoehr Coaching Space on Jan. 14, 2013.

U.S. Military Workers Sergeant Pablo Piedra | U.S. Military

The U.S. has dedicated tons of of armored autos to Ukrainian forces, together with 200 M113 armored autos and 100 armored excessive mobility multipurpose wheeled autos.

The U.S. navy has additionally allotted no less than 72 tactical autos for the aim of towing U.S Military and U.S. Marine Corps 155mm howitzers across the battlefield.

Heavy artillery

U.S. Marines with Alpha Battery, Battalion Touchdown Workforce 1st Bn., 4th Marines, fireplace their M777 Light-weight 155mm Howitzer throughout Train Alligator Dagger in Arta Seashore, Djibouti, Dec. 18.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Zachery C. Laning | U.S. Marine Corps

The final two U.S. weapons packages for Ukraine have included a complete of 90 howitzer artillery techniques. These are the first-known heavy artillery platforms to be transferred from U.S. Military and U.S. Marine Corps stockpiles to Ukrainian forces.

The Pentagon confirmed that Ukraine forces should practice alongside U.S. troops earlier than working the howitzers. The Pentagon stated earlier this week that the coaching had already begun and was going down in a location outdoors of Ukraine however within the area.

Together with the howitzers, the U.S. has despatched roughly 184,000 artillery rounds.

Missiles and different anti-armor techniques

U.S. Military Spc. Colton Davis, an infantryman assigned to Firm C, 2nd Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, a hundred and fifty fifth Armored Brigade Fight Workforce, Mississippi Military Nationwide Guard, fires a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile throughout a mixed arms stay fireplace train as a part of Train Jap Motion 2019 at Al-Ghalail Vary in Qatar, Nov. 14, 2018.

Spc. Jovi Prevot | U.S. Military

Excessive on the wishlists of Ukrainian forces are the Javelin transportable anti-armor weapons. Thus far, the U.S. has transferred practically 6,000 Javelins, that are co-produced by protection giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to the Ukrainian authorities.

As well as, the U.S. has dedicated practically 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missile techniques to Ukraine, 6,000 transportable AT-4 anti-armor techniques in addition to different laser-guided rocket techniques.

Plane and radars

Russian Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24military helicopters fly over the northeastern Syrian city of al-Malikiyahat the border with Turkey, on June 3, 2020.

Delil Souleiman | AFP | Getty Pictures

Weapons and ammunition

U.S. Military Pvt. Adam Eggers shoots his M4 rifle at a live-fire vary on Camp Blessing in Kunar province, Afghanistan, July 27, 2009.

U.S. Military Spc. Evan Marcy | U.S. Military

The Pentagon has despatched practically 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition and greater than 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine weapons and 400 shotguns to Ukraine.

The U.S. has additionally devoted greater than 1 million grenades, mortars and artillery rounds.

Protecting tools

Troopers from A Firm , 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment type and pack a number of the surplus 84,000 ballistic helmets being shipped to armed forces and emergency staff in Ukraine on March 31, 2022 in Donnington, England. 

Christopher Furlong | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures

Thus far, the U.S. has despatched greater than 30,000 units of physique armor and helmets to Ukrainian forces, in line with figures offered by the Pentagon.

As well as, the U.S. has additionally outfitted Ukrainian troops with night time imaginative and prescient gadgets, thermal imagery techniques and different types of militarized optics.

The U.S. has additionally included medical provides in addition to tools used to help in fight evacuations. As well as, tons of of chemical, organic, radiological and nuclear protecting tools have additionally left U.S. stockpiles for Ukraine.