Armed drones, Stingers, and 20 million rounds: Biden announces $1B in weapons for Ukraine

WASHINGTON:  President Joe Biden announced today that the US will provide Ukraine with an additional $800 million in weaponry, committing a total of $1 billion in military aid to Kyiv this week alone.

The latest security assistance package doubles the $1 billion in security assistance previously given by the administration.

However, the military tech that the US will provide to Ukraine — which includes anti-tank missiles and anti-aircraft systems — falls short of the more sophisticated air defense systems and combat aircraft Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for during a speech to US lawmakers earlier today.

“The American people are answering President Zelensky’s call for more help, more weapons for Ukraine to defend itself, more tools to fight Russian aggression,” Biden said during a speech at the White House announcing the new military aid.

The arms package includes 800 shoulder-mounted Stinger anti-aircraft systems and 9,000 anti-armor systems, including 2,000 Javelin systems, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons and 6,000 AT-4 antiarmor systems, according to a White House fact sheet.

For the first time, the US is providing drones to Ukraine in the form of 100 “tactical unmanned aerial systems,” the White House stated. Biden did not specify what drones will be delivered to Ukraine, but Politico reported that the drones are AeroVironment’s Switchblade system, which loiters in the sky before crashing into its target.

Drones have already played a major part in Ukraine’s defense, with the Turkish-made TB2 becoming something of a local celebrity for its ability to take out Russia armor. Unlike the TB2, however, the Switchblade is a one-time-use system, more of a loitering munition than a true UAV.

RELATED: Ukraine’s Turkish-made drones face off against advanced Russian military

The package also includes 7,000 small arms — including 5,000 rifles, 400 machine guns, 400 shotguns and 100 grenade launchers — as well as 20 million rounds of ammunition, mortars and artillery. In the realm of protective gear, the package provides 25,000 sets of body armor and helmets.

Biden’s announcement came just hours after Zelensky virtually addressed a joint session of Congress this morning, where the Ukrainian president pleaded US politicians to instate a no fly zone or, as an alternative, to send additional weapons to Ukraine — specifically air defense systems and additional combat aircraft.

“Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people. Russian troops have already fired nearly 1,000 missiles on Ukraine, countless bombs. They use drones to kill us with precision. This is a terror that Europe has not seen for 80 years and we are asking for a reply, for an answer to this terror,” Zelensky said.

“Is this a lot to ask for, to create a no fly zone over Ukraine to save people? Is this too much to ask?” Zelensky said. “If this is too much to ask, we offer an alternative. You know what kinds of defense systems we need — S-300 and other similar systems. You know how much depends on the battlefield, on the ability to use aircraft, powerful strong aviation to protect our people, our freedom our land.”

While the S-300 or other comparable Russian anti-aircraft systems were not listed as part of today’s arms package, the White House stated that “the United States has also identified and is helping the Ukrainians acquire additional, longer-range [air defense] systems on which Ukraine’s forces are already trained, as well as additional munitions for those systems.”

Biden did not address the prospect of a no-fly zone this afternoon, but US officials —as well as key allies such as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson — have continually rebuffed Ukrainian requests for a no-fly zone over fears it would be tantamount to direct war with Russia.

On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden “continues to believe that a no-fly zone would be escalatory, could prompt a war with Russia.”

However, Biden said the United States was committed to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin pays a high price for his decision to invade Ukraine.

“Putin is inflicting appalling, appalling devastation on Ukraine, bombing apartment buildings, maternity wards, hospitals,” Biden said. “Yesterday we saw reports that Russian forces were holding hundreds of doctors and patients hostage in the largest hospital in Mariupol. These are atrocities. They’re an outrage to the world.”