WASHINGTON The State Department has approved a sale of military equipment to Ukraine that includes 150 anti-tank missiles to help fight Russia-backed separatists.
WASHINGTON — The State Department has approved a sale of military equipment to Ukraine that includes 150 anti-tank missiles to help fight Russia-backed separatists.
A Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice says the $39.2 million sale includes 10 launch units for the Javelin missiles and related equipment.
The agency announced the sale Thursday after notifying Congress, where the leadership gave initial approval earlier this week.
President Donald Trump earlier this year delayed nearly $400 in aid to Ukraine as he sought to press the country’s president to investigate the son of former Vice President Joe Biden. This sale is not part of that aid package.
The U.S. has been providing assistance to Ukraine since Russia-backed separatists invaded in 2014 following the ouster of a Kremlin-backed leader in an Eastern European country that was once part of the Soviet Union.
Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, the Supreme Allied Commander, told Pentagon reporters on Thursday that he believes that the U.S. should send more Javelins to Ukraine beyond those already in the pipeline. He said the Javelins, which are manufactured in a joint venture by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and the military training teams that deploy with them allow Ukraine to better protect itself.
Ukraine should allow the US Air Force permission to fly heavy B-52 bombers loaded with 500 lb bombs and carpet bomb large sections of its rebel infested areas.
Just one three cell formation loaded with hundreds of 500lb bombs is capable of saturating an area roughly 2 miles long and half a mile wide. Everything in that area are obliberated, including Russian troops. Its an excellent way of getting rid of old dangerous munitions and actually saves taxpayers money by avoiding expensive deactivation programs.