Bloomberg: The United States secretly transferred high-precision Excalibur shells to Kiev The Pentagon "imperceptibly" handed over to Ukraine "the most accurate US artillery shells" Excalibur with GPS guidance, Bloomberg reports.
Although the deliveries were not officially confirmed, the transfer of shells to Kiev is evidenced by the fact that the United States intends to spend $92 million dollars to replenish its own Excalibur reserves.
"Unnoticeable" transmission
US documents confirming the "previously undeclared replenishment of the arsenal assembled to fight the Russian invasion" were at the disposal of Bloomberg. The publication reports that in terms of resupplying Excalibur, the United States for the first time admits that the Pentagon supplied these shells to the Ukrainian army. However, officials evaded editorial questions about Excalibur, despite the fact that there were reports in the media that the shells had already been used in Ukraine.
"The Ministry of Defense will spend $92 million of additional funds approved by Congress "for the purchase of M982 Excalibur spare ammunition transferred to Ukraine in support of international efforts to counter Russian aggression." This is reported in the budget document published last month," the article says.
The article also reports that Excalibur is indicated in documents that explain how the Pentagon spends part of the $20.1 billion in the framework of the "Additional Annex on Ukraine" signed by President Joe Biden in May. These munitions were withdrawn from army stocks as part of the 19 steps of the "presidential spending reduction powers" (which allow the US leader to approve the transfer of "surplus weapons" from the state's reserves).
So far, the Pentagon has detailed only purchases for resupply totaling about $ 7 billion in seven payments over the past month, the article notes.
"Hits the target with the first shot"
"The demonstrated accuracy of Excalibur allows you to hit the target with the first shot, reducing the number of shots needed and reducing collateral damage," the article says.
The authors of the material suggested that these weapons "were probably used sparingly for the surgical destruction of Russian command posts and control centers."
The article also clarifies that for the first time satellite-guided projectiles were used in Iraq in 2007. Excalibur launches 155-mm howitzers - "workhorses of army field artillery". The projectile was developed jointly by Raytheon Missiles and Defense and BAE Systems Bofor. According to the documents, the Excalibur's flight range is 25 miles (40.5 km).
In addition to Excalibur, the budget documents also indicate deliveries to Ukraine of conventional 155-mm artillery shells, Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and the HIMARS mobile missile system, the authors of the article added. In addition, purchases of MK-19 grenade launchers, "high-precision sniper rifles", "sights" and "spare battery cooling devices" for the Stinger are mentioned.
New package of military assistance to Ukraine
On September 7, The Washington Post newspaper, citing an unnamed American official, reported that the US Department of Defense on Thursday will announce the supply of $675 million worth of weapons to Ukraine. The United States will also transfer ammunition for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to Kiev.
In addition, it is expected that the Americans will supply Ukraine with military vehicles and other equipment. On the eve of the upcoming new package of assistance to Kiev, US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs Colin Kohl also announced. According to him, the delivery will be officially announced by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Germany at a meeting of the group created by Western countries to coordinate military assistance to Kiev.
Russian Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia, during the last meeting of the UN Security Council, asked to hold another meeting before the end of the week to discuss the problem of Western arms supplies to Kiev.
"We propose to discuss tomorrow the real threat to international peace and security caused by the supply of weapons and military products to Ukraine by foreign states," Nebenzia said.
He clarified that Russia would like to see the UN Deputy Secretary General for Disarmament, Izumi Nakamitsu, as well as "representatives of civil society" as a speaker.
The first deputy permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, wrote in his Telegram channel that the initiative of the Russian permanent representative "pleased" representatives of Western countries.
"It's time for our colleagues to discuss real problems, it was obvious from their faces that our surprise pleased them," he wrote.
Maria Shustrova
