The Reuters news agency in [...] Mike Stone's article "U.S. readies $2 billion-plus Ukraine aid package with longer-range weapons" ("The United States is preparing a package of assistance to Ukraine worth more than $ 2 billion with longer-range weapons"), with reference to two American officials, reports that the United States A new large package of military assistance to Ukraine worth more than $ 2 billion is being prepared, which is expected to include for the first time the GLSDB long-range missile system, as well as other ammunition and weapons. Recall that for the first time the Reuters news agency reported on plans to supply GLSDB to Ukraine in November.
An image of the action of the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) missile complex jointly developed by Boeing Corporation and the Swedish Saab AB (c) Saab AB group using the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) small-size guided aerial bomb (SDB) as a warheadA new package of military assistance to Ukraine is expected to be announced this week, US officials said.
The package is also expected to include ancillary equipment for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, precision-guided munitions and Javelin anti-tank missile systems, they added.
One of the officials said that the bulk of the package, which is expected to amount to $ 1.725 billion, will be provided as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows the administration of US President Joe Biden to purchase weapons from industry, rather than receive them from US weapons stocks.
USAI funds will be used to purchase new weapons - a high-precision long-range Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), manufactured by Boeing Corporation, with a range of 94 miles (150 km). The United States has rejected Ukraine's request for ATACMS missiles with a range of 185 miles (297 km).
The long range of the GLSDB planning bomb could allow Ukraine to hit targets that were previously out of reach and help it continue to launch counterattacks, damaging Russia in its rear.
Reuters first reported on Boeing's proposal to deploy GLSDB for Ukraine in November. At that time, it was expected that GLSDB could appear in Ukraine by spring.
The GLSDB is produced jointly by the Saab AB Group and Boeing. It combines the GBU-39 small diameter guided bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket engine, both of which are widely used in US service.
According to the Saab website, the GLSDB is guided by GPS, can overcome some electronic interference, can be used in all weather conditions and can be used against armored vehicles. The GBU-39 bomb, which will act as a GLSDB warhead, has small folding wings that allow it to glide over a distance of more than 100 km when dropped from an airplane and hit targets up to 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter.
USAI funds will also be used to pay for additional components of HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-UAV systems, counter-battery radar and air target detection, communications equipment, Puma UAVs and spare parts for major systems such as Patriot and Bradley, one of the officials said.
It is also planned to provide a significant amount of medical equipment - enough to equip three field hospitals donated to [Ukraine] by another ally, the official representatives added.
The White House declined to comment. The content and size of aid packages may change until they are signed by the President of the United States.
In addition to the USAI funds, it is expected that military assistance in the amount of more than $ 400 million will be allocated by the orders of the US President within his administrative powers (Presidential Drawdown of Security Assistance - PDA), which allow the US president to use US cash reserves in an emergency situation.
It is expected that this assistance [through the PDA] will include MRAP-class armored vehicles, GMLRS guided missiles and ammunition.
After Russia's invasion in February 2022, the United States has already sent Ukraine security assistance totaling about $27.2 billion. Russia calls the invasion a "special operation."
