Politico: new package of US military aid to Ukraine will include Sea Sparrow missiles

The new package of military assistance that Washington will allocate to Kyiv will include anti-aircraft ship-based missiles Sea Sparrow (“Sea Sparrow”) with radar guidance, writes Politico citing sources.

These missiles are designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the publication, were able to modify their Soviet-made Buk launchers to use the Sea Sparrow. The only ones who used sparrows for shooting from land before were the Taiwanese armed forces.

In addition to missiles, the new aid package will also include 50 Bradley tracked infantry fighting vehicles armed with automatic weapons and machine guns, as well as a Patriot battery announced by Washington in December. The total volume of this package, according to the publication, will amount to $3.8 billion, of which $2.25 billion will go to Ukraine and an additional $225 million in military funding.

Politico notes that Washington’s allocation of new infantry fighting vehicles, and Paris of AMX-10 RC armored vehicles “may open the way to the supply of more powerful Western tanks, which American and European allies have so far been reluctant to do.” In particular, we can talk about future deliveries of German Leopard tanks and American Abrams.

December 21 US Department of State informed on the allocation of a new military assistance package to Kyiv, which for the first time will include the Patriot air defense system. Earlier, US President Joe Biden ordered another $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also announced an additional $850 million aid package. will reach $21.9 billion.

After that, the Kremlin stated that the supply of new air defense systems to Kyiv do not contribute settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and will not prevent Russia from achieving the goals of the special operation.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin called it the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, as its goals. In response, Western countries imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia and began to provide military assistance to Ukraine.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized Western military assistance to Ukraine. In this regard, back in April, Moscow sent a note of protest to all countries, including the United States. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that by supplying weapons to Ukraine, the United States is trying to prolong the conflict, as well as to benefit from it.