Washington has given billions of dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine. A timeline of what and when, and the price tag, since the start of the war.
Last updated on January 20, 2023, at 9:35 a.m.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States has now sent nearly $27 billion worth of military aid to support Kyiv’s war effort, according to the Department of Defense. This massive arms transfer has included a wide range of weapons, from anti-armor missiles to helicopters and beyond.
With the constant flow of news about the war, it can be hard to keep track of all these weapons packages, so we at Responsible Statecraft decided to put together a timeline of every arms shipment that has been announced since the war began. And whenever a new transfer is announced, we’ll update this page to reflect it.
Before jumping into the timeline, it is important to note a couple of things. First, this list only contains publicly announced information. The Pentagon admitted on August 11 to sending at least one type of missile that had not been previously mentioned in their press releases, so there’s reason to believe that this list is not exhaustive.
Second, there are three different sources for these lethal aid packages. One, which has made up the vast majority of transfers to date, is known as a “presidential drawdown.” This means that the White House and Pentagon agree to send weapons to Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles, after which DoD can use the funds to replenish their stocks by purchasing new arms from defense contractors. Biden has used this authority an unprecedented 18 times in order to send weapons to Ukraine, with most of the funding coming from money that Congress has set aside to arm Kyiv.
The second source of weapons is the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. This is a special fund within the Pentagon’s budget that is used to purchase new weapons from contractors rather than drawing from existing stockpiles. Transfers from these funds do not require additional approval from Congress.
The third category is foreign military financing, or FMF. This program provides grants or loans to close U.S. partners that are often earmarked for specific weapons purchases. In essence, it lowers barriers for foreign countries that want to buy arms from American defense manufacturers and gives them the money needed to finance purchases.
Without further ado, here is a timeline of every major weapons shipment or funding package announced since February 24:
January 19
The Biden administration announced an addition $2.5 billion in military support for Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— Eight Avenger air defense systems (These mobile systems can help protect units from various forms of air attacks.)
— 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (These armored vehicles, which are smaller than full tanks but otherwise similar, could be valuable in Kyiv’s efforts to retake land in eastern Ukraine.)
— 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers
— Various other armored vehicles
— NASAMS ammunition (This stands for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. The weapon launches missiles to defend against various types of aircraft, including drones.)
— HIMARS ammunition (This is an acronym for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. These mobile missile launchers can fire a wide range of munitions, including rocket artillery and short-range ballistic missiles.)
— Artillery ammunition
— HARM missiles (High-speed anti-radiation missiles are fired from planes to destroy enemy radar.)
January 6
DoD announced an additional $3.075 billion. Presidential drawdowns account for $2.85 billion, while the rest of the transfer comes from FMF. This package includes:
— 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles
— Various other armored vehicles
— Howitzers (This is a popular long-range artillery weapon.)
— Artillery ammunition
— HIMARS ammunition
— Air-to-surface rockets
— Aerial defense missiles
December 21
The Pentagon announced an additional $1.85 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Presidential drawdowns make up $1 billion of this weapons package, while the other $850 million comes from USAI funds. The new arms shipments include:
— One Patriot missile defense battery (This is America’s state-of-the-art missile defense system.)
— HIMARS ammunition
— Air-to-surface missiles
— HARM missiles
— Artillery ammunition, including shells meant for use with Soviet-era systems
— Mortar systems and ammunition
— Various armored vehicles
December 9
DoD announced $275 million in lethal aid to Ukraine via presidential drawdown. Package includes:
— HIMARS ammunition
— 80,000 155mm artillery rounds
— Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems equipment
— Counter air defense capability
— High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) Ambulances and medical equipment
— Approximately 150 generators
— Field equipment
November 23
DoD announced an additional $400 million in lethal aid to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— NASAMS Ammunition
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— HARM missiles
— Various armored vehicles
— Heavy machine guns
November 10
The Pentagon announced that it will give an additional $400 million of weapons to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— Avenger air defense systems
— HAWK air defense missiles
— Artillery ammunition
— HIMARS ammunition
— Armored vehicles
— Small arms
November 4
DoD announced that it would send $400 million of weapons to Ukraine via USAI funds, including:
— HAWK air defense missiles (The USAI money will be used to refurbish missiles already in U.S. stockpiles, which will be delivered in a future presidential drawdown, according to the Pentagon.)
— T-72B tanks (These are Russian-made tanks originally developed in the Soviet era.)
— Phoenix Ghost drones (These are a type of “loitering munition,” or a weapon that can wait in the air for extended periods of time before attacking a target. This was created by the United States for use in Ukraine.)
— Armored boats
October 28
The Pentagon announced that it would send $275 million in weapons to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— Ammunition for remote anti-armor mine systems (RAAM) (These artillery rounds contain several anti-tank mines that are released above their target before the shell hits the ground.)
— Armored vehicles
October 14
DoD announced that it would send $725 million in weapons to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— RAAM ammunition
— High-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM) (These missiles are fired from planes at targets on the ground.)
— Armored vehicles
October 4
The Pentagon announced an additional $625 million in military aid to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— Four HIMARS
— Howitzers
— Artillery ammunition
— Armored vehicles
September 28
The DoD announced that it will give Ukraine an additional $1.1 billion in weapons to Ukraine via the USAI, including:
— 18 HIMARS
— Various armored vehicles
— Counter-drone systems
September 16
The Pentagon announced that it will send another $600 million of arms to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery Ammunition
— Counter-artillery radars
— Counter-drone systems
September 8
The Pentagon announced that it will send $675 million of weapons to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— High-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM)
— Ammunition for remote anti-armor mine systems (RAAM)
— Various armored vehicles
In a first since the war began, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $1 billion in foreign military financing for Kyiv, with another $1 billion going to other U.S. partners near Ukraine. Blinken did not clarify which weapons systems would be purchased under this authority.
August 24
The Pentagon announced that it will use USAI funds to send an additional $3 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine, including:
— Six additional (NASAMS)
— VAMPIRE anti-drone systems
— Laser-guided rocket systems (This likely refers to the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, which fires highly accurate rockets with a relatively short range.)
— Puma surveillance drones
— Counter-artillery radars
— Artillery ammunition
— Mortar ammunition
August 19
The Pentagon announced that it will send an additional $775 million worth of security assistance to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— Javelin anti-armor systems
— ScanEagle surveillance drones
— HARM missiles
— Various armored vehicles
August 8
The Pentagon announced that it will send $1 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
— Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
August 1
The Pentagon announced an additional $550 million of security aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
July 22
The Pentagon announced that it will send $270 million of military aid to Ukraine, with $175 million authorized via presidential drawdown and the other $95 million coming via USAI funds. This included:
— Four additional HIMARS
— HIMARS ammunition
— Four Command Post vehicles (These can be used as a tactical operations center or an armored ambulance, among other things.)
— Tank gun ammunition
— Phoenix Ghost drones
July 8
The Pentagon announced an additional $400 million of military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
— Four additional HIMARS
— HIMARS ammunition
— Artillery ammunition
July 1
The Pentagon announced that it will send $820 million of security aid, with $50 million authorized via presidential drawdown and the remaining $770 million coming via USAI funds. This included:
— HIMARS ammunition
— Two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)
— Artillery ammunition
June 23
The Pentagon announced an additional $450 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
— Four HIMARS
— Artillery ammunition
— Grenade launchers
— Patrol boats
June 15
The Pentagon announced an additional $1 billion in lethal aid, with $350 million authorized via presidential drawdown and $650 million coming from USAI funds. This included:
— Howitzers
— Artillery ammunition
— HIMARS ammunition
— Two Harpoon coastal defense systems (These launch missiles that fly just above the surface of the water to attack planes and ships.)
June 1
The Pentagon announced an additional $700 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
— HIMARS
— HIMARS ammunition
— Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
— Artillery ammunition
— Four Mi-17 helicopters (These can be used for transport or combat.)
May 19
The Pentagon announced $100 million in lethal aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Howitzers
On the same day, Congress passed a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine, roughly half of which was earmarked for military assistance.
May 6
The Pentagon announced $150 million in military aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Artillery ammunition
April 21
DoD announced $800 million in further aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Howitzers
— Artillery ammunition
— Phoenix Ghost drones
April 13
The Pentagon announced that it will send an additional $800 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
— Howitzers
— Artillery ammunition
— Switchblade drones (This is another form of loitering munition.)
— Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
— Armored personnel carriers
— 11 Mi-17 helicopters
— Various types of explosives
April 6
The Pentagon announced an addition $100 million in aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Javelin anti-armor systems
April 1
DoD announced that it will send $300 million in lethal aid using USAI funds, including:
— Laser-guided rocket systems
— Switchblade drones
— Puma surveillance drones
— Anti-drone systems
— Armored vehicles
March 16
The Pentagon announced that it will send $800 million worth of military aid via presidential drawdown. The exact contents of this package are unclear, but it likely included Mi-17 helicopters, Javelin missiles, and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
March 12
The White House announced that it will send $200 million in lethal aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Javelin missiles
— Stinger missiles
March 10
Congress approved $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, roughly half of which was earmarked for military assistance.
February 25
The White House announced that it will send $350 million in military aid via presidential drawdown, including:
— Anti-armor weapons
— Small arms
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