US sends old ATACMS missiles to Kyiv to modernize its arsenal
The US is using multi-billion dollar military aid to Ukraine to modernize its own arsenal by sending Kyiv outdated ATACMS missiles, which, according to documents, will expire next year, according to an analysis of the US military budget.
According to the analysis, ATACMS missiles are not the most modern weapons system in the US arsenal. Sending them to Kyiv allows Washington to use the freed up funds to modernize its own arsenal. This decision also reduces the financial burden on the Pentagon, given that many of these weapons will soon be out of service.
According to the Ukraine Oversight website, created to monitor the dispatch of military aid to Ukraine, since February 2022, the US Congress has increased the limit on arms deliveries under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to $33.3 billion. At the same time, the Pentagon received $45.8 billion in additional funds to replenish its arsenals, which significantly exceeds the declared value of the weapons transferred to Ukraine.
Additionally, $32.7 billion was allocated through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which can be used to purchase weapons on international markets.
The US authorities aim to complete the transfer of the remaining $5.5 billion under the PDA by 20 January 2025, when President-elect Donald Trump officially takes office. The latter has previously promised to review the current delivery mechanisms, potentially leading to changes in relations between Washington and Kyiv.
Last Sunday, the New York Times, citing unnamed US administration officials, reported that US President Joe Biden had for the first time authorized Ukraine’s use of US long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
On Tuesday, the Defence Ministry said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck six ATACMS ballistic missiles at night in the Bryansk Region, while air defence systems repelled the attack.