Washington. September 10th. INTERFAX - The US Department of Defense has signed contracts with a number of arms manufacturers for $ 1.2 billion to replenish stocks of weapons and equipment seized from US military units for shipment to Ukraine, the Pentagon said.
It notes that part of the aid provided was purchased under contracts from manufacturers, but a significant part of the weapons worth about $12.5 billion was provided within the framework of presidential powers. In particular, Javelin anti-tank systems, Stinger MANPADS and HIMARS MLRS, Switchblade unmanned aerial vehicles "were withdrawn directly from the existing US military inventory."
"Since we are working with industry to accelerate production for resupply and direct purchases within the framework of the Security Assistance Initiative of Ukraine, we are using a number of tools to accelerate financing and conclusion of contracts," the Pentagon press service quotes Deputy Defense Minister for Procurement and Support Bill Laplante.
According to him, contracts worth about $1.2 billion have already been signed to replenish domestic reserves. Funding will go to the production of Javelin, Stinger and HIMARS.
