WASHINGTON — The U.S. will drop heavily armored vehicles as part of the latest $2.6 billion security package for Ukraine — one of the largest since Russia’s invasion began 11 months ago, Pentagon sources tell The Post.
The assistance is expected to include nearly 100 Stryker combat vehicles and at least 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.
The package, to be announced on Friday, is another step towards giving Ukraine the tanks Kyiv has long sought, with fighting expected to intensify later this year. Stryker fighting vehicles and Bradley fighting vehicles are similar to tanks but have less armor and smaller guns.
The US has previously sent thousands of other combat vehicles to Ukraine to help move troops – such as Humvees and mine-resistant vehicles – but the Bradleys and Strykers offer increased combat capabilities with their 25mm and 105mm guns, respectively.
Despite Ukraine’s repeated requests for tanks, only the UK has responded. Over the weekend, London announced it would send Ukraine 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Germany is also considering sending Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
While U.S. officials have acknowledged the benefits the tanks would provide to Ukraine’s defenders, this week’s package will not include M1 Abrams tanks, which Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said “just doesn’t make sense” to send “that at the moment’, at least in part. due to maintenance requirements.
The latest security package for Ukraine from the US will include 100 Stryker combat vehicles.
The armored vehicles are similar to the tanks that Ukraine has requested, but have less armor and smaller weapons.
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The package will also include 50 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
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“Abrams is more of a sustainability issue,” Singh told reporters Thursday. “I mean, this is a tank that requires jet fuel, whereas the Leopard and the Challenger – it’s a different engine, they require diesel. It’s a little easier to maintain.”
Details of the package come ahead of Friday’s meeting of the Pentagon-led Ukraine Defense Group, which brings together defense leaders from more than 50 nations each month to coordinate resources for the war-torn country. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin often attends major military aid announcements at the group’s monthly meetings.
Austin is also expected to pressure other allies that use Leopard tanks to offer them to Ukraine.
“There are dozens of countries that have Leopard tanks,” Singh said. “I think the secretary’s goal here is to ensure and work with our partners and allies to get Ukraine the capabilities and requests that it has for what it needs on the battlefield. That’s why the contact group is so important.”
US officials believe Russia is planning a new spring offensive in Ukraine. Discussions at Friday’s meeting — to be held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany — are expected to focus on what Kyiv will need to counter the expected attack and “launch attacks to take back territory that Russia has seized.” according to the Pentagon.
While those needs include a steady supply of air defense and artillery capabilities, the coming fight will require armored weapons, which will require Bradley, Strykers and British Challenger tanks, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.
“What is really important at this point is to provide Ukraine with armor capabilities and in particular maneuver[able] armor capabilities,” the official said.
Ukrainian troops are already training in Bradley fighting vehicles at the 7th Army Training Center in Grafenwoehr, Germany, near Nuremberg, according to the Pentagon.
So far, the US has sent Ukraine about $20 billion in military aid from its own stockpile and through arms purchases with funds approved by Congress.
