US sends seized Iranian weapons to Ukraine, approves $138M HAWK missile programs

The stalled $60 billion navy help bundle to Ukraine isn’t stopping the Biden administration from getting weapons and different navy help to the war-torn nation because it battles again towards a Russian invasion. 

On Tuesday, the State Division accredited an emergency $138 million in international navy gross sales for Ukraine to supply vital repairs and spare elements for Kyiv’s HAWK missile programs, noting Ukraine has an pressing want for upkeep help to maintain the missile system working.

The HAWK is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system that gives air protection, which is one in every of Ukraine’s high safety wants.

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“Ukraine has an pressing want to extend its capabilities to defend towards Russian missile strikes and the aerial capabilities of Russian forces,” the State Division stated in a memo outlining the sale. “Sustaining and sustaining the HAWK Weapon System will improve Ukraine’s potential to defend its individuals and shield vital nationwide infrastructure.”

Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that with out help, the U.S. dangers Ukraine falling to Russia.

“Ukraine issues and the end result of the battle in Ukraine could have world implications for our nationwide safety as properly,” Austin stated throughout a Capitol Hill listening to Tuesday.

The MIM-23 HAWK – a reputation that started life as an acronym for “Homing All of the Approach Killer” – was first launched within the Nineteen Fifties because the U.S. navy sought methods to defeat raids by high-flying strategic bombers. It was upgraded through the years to take care of jamming and different countermeasures, and finally exported to greater than a dozen international locations, based on the U.S. Military Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Administration Command.

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The information got here on the identical day that the U.S. navy introduced it had transferred hundreds of infantry weapons and greater than 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine. The weapons and ammunition have been seized greater than a 12 months in the past as they have been being shipped by Iran to Houthi forces in Yemen, in violation of United Nations Safety Council Decision 2216.

The weaponry, which was transferred to Kyiv on April 4 “constituted sufficient materials to equip” a Ukrainian brigade, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated in a press release posted on X.

An infantry brigade usually contains 3,500 to 4,000 troops, however the actual numbers aren’t identified.

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CENTCOM stated the {hardware} included greater than 5,000 AK-47 assault rifles, machine weapons, sniper rifles and rocket-propelled grenades and greater than 500,000 rounds of ammunition.

“These weapons will assist Ukraine defend towards Russia’s invasion,” the CENTCOM submit on X reads. 

“U.S. CENTCOM is dedicated to working with our allies and companions to counter the movement of Iranian deadly help within the area by all lawful means together with U.S. and U.N. sanctions and thru interdictions.”

“Iran’s help for armed teams threatens worldwide and regional safety, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and residents within the area, in addition to these of our companions. We are going to proceed to do no matter we will to make clear and cease Iran’s destabilizing actions.”

The Related Press and Reuters contributed to this report.