US Defense Chief Calls for More Air Defense Systems for Ukraine
Following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) at Ramstein Air Base in Germany US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the attendees, which included the new Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, that continuing to provide Ukraine with air defense capabilities is essential.
In a statement released after the meeting Secretary Austin said:
“Air defense will continue to be Ukraine’s greatest need to protect the skies, its civilians, and its cities – as well as innocent people far away from the battlefield… I urged allies and partners to dig deep and donate whatever air defense munitions they can, as Ukraine heads into another winter of war.”
During the meeting Austin also highlighted aid America and other UDCG members had already given to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022. Adding that deliveries of M1 Abrams tanks and the training of fighter pilots on F-16 fighter jets will also begin soon. With Holland, Denmark and Norway recently announcing their intention to donate F-16s to Ukraine.
It is nearly a year since the US and the UDCG shifted their focus to air defense systems. During the latest meeting a number of the air defense systems which have already been sent to Ukraine were detailed, including: Patriot, Hawk, IRIS-T, National/Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (or NASAMS), and Gepards. Austin also added: “‘these air defense capabilities are protecting Ukraine’s forces, its civilians, and its critical infrastructure.”
On top of calling for further air defense systems the meeting also covered other UDCG members aid packages for Ukraine. Poland has provided more mine clearing equipment and over 100 APCs along with munitions. Sweden recently announced a military aid package worth more than $300 million and Denmark has pledged a significant $833 million package which will include ammunition and armored capabilities. Most recently, on the 18 September, Germany announced a new aid package containing munitions and mine clearing equipment worth $420 million.
Austin remarking on the UDCGs efforts said “this coalition of like-minded countries continues to move heaven and earth to get Ukraine what it needs right now and over the long haul,” Austin continued, “we’ve also ramped up our industrial base to support the demand, and we won’t let up.”
Notably, however, there was no mention of the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) which Ukraine has repeatedly requested to enable long range strikes on key targets deep behind Russian lines. The Biden administration has been reluctant to agree to the transfer of ATACMS although officials have said discussions around the matter are ongoing.