Image source: topwar.ru
The United States decided to strengthen the artillery component of the Ukrainian army, considering that the M777 howitzers delivered before were not enough. The Pentagon is preparing a new package of military assistance, which will include artillery pieces.
On May 19, American President Joe Biden signed another document on the allocation of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of $ 100 million. It is noteworthy that this is the 10th, so to speak, "anniversary" package allocated to Ukraine since August 2021. The aid is being sent to "meet the critical needs of Ukraine" in connection with the offensive of Russian troops in the east of the country. This is something like the wording in the document authorizing the next supply of weapons to Kiev.
According to the published information, this delivery will include: 18 towed M777 155 mm howitzers and 18 tractors for them; three AN/TPQ-36 artillery position detection radars and field equipment and spare parts. The timing of the transfer of howitzers is not yet called, but it seems that all this will happen in the near future.
Earlier, the United States sent 90 light towed 155-mm M777 howitzers to Ukraine, 72 Oshkosh FMTV M1083 (6x6) tractors for towing them and 209 thousand 155 mm artillery rounds for these howitzers. It is possible that ammunition was supplied at other times. Some of the supplied guns are located in the Donbas and are involved in hostilities. One of the M777 batteries has already managed to come under fire from Russian artillery, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, some of the guns have been destroyed.
Recall that on all the howitzers transferred to the APU, the Americans removed the digital fire control system (FMS), which turns this howitzer into a highly efficient and high-precision weapon.
