Deadly Weapons That the USA is Sending to Ukraine

The United States has been sending lethal aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country. Totaling almost 20 billion dollars as of November 2022, the US has provided a massive amount of support to the Ukrainian military, including to its air force and navy. Some of the weapons that have been sent include anti-tank weaponry, artillery, and ammunition. One of the most famous anti-tank weapons is the Javelin, which has proven itself to be effective due to its ability to be a fire-and-forget weapon while also attacking its target from the top down. Another effective weapon system that has been sent is the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which is capable of sending and receiving encrypted data over a secure pathway, allowing multiple units over a wide area to build a near-instantaneous fire control solution.

One of the primary reasons that anti-tank weapons have been sent to Ukraine is due to the danger that tank crews face on the battlefield. Tanks are heavily armored, making them difficult to destroy. However, the Javelin anti-armor missile system has been effective in taking them out. The Javelin is a fire-and-forget weapon, meaning that the operator can quickly run away once the missile leaves the tube to avoid enemy counterfire. The top-down attack feature allows the operator to attack the most vulnerable part of a tank: its top armor. The US has sent over 8,500 Javelins to Ukraine, along with 38,000 other anti-armor systems. While it's unclear what these other systems are, it is likely that they are AT-4 rockets, which are simple but effective man-portable anti-armor firepower systems that can be used to engage light armored vehicles, buildings, bunkers, and anything else that soldiers need to destroy from a distance.

In addition to anti-tank weapons, the US has also sent a massive amount of artillery to Ukraine. After Ukraine repulsed the initial invasion, the war became a war of artillery. The Russian army was constantly blasting its artillery day and night, which put Ukrainian troops under almost constant bombardment. The US decided to give them some tools to help even the playing field, and as part of its comprehensive aid package, it has sent 142 155mm guns and 36 105mm guns along with over a million shells to feed them. The US sent more heavy artillery systems because the Ukrainians needed longer-range artillery. With older Soviet artillery systems unable to match the range of modern Russian equipment, the Russians could move outside the effective range of those systems and blast away at them. With heavy American artillery, Russian guns can no longer shoot away with impunity since they now risk counterfire from a donated M777 howitzer.

Another artillery system that has been in the news lately has been the HIMARS, which is a revolutionary weapon system. The HIMARS is the first Link 16 capable mobile rocket system that the US has ever built. Link 16 is one of the common data links that the US military uses to send and receive encrypted data over a secure pathway. It is unbreakable and allows a free flow of communication without fear of being knocked out or intercepted. While mostly a navy system, other branches have started using it, like the Marine Corps. This is important because the HIMARS was the first Link 16 capable mobile rocket system that the US has ever built. Ukrainian defenders on the land, sea, or air who are up-linked can send data to the firing units. Instead of a cumbersome patchwork of different networks and communication paths between other units or branches, Link 16 allows multiple units over a wide area to build a near-instantaneous fire control solution. With that data, the HIMARS system can attack Russian troops anytime, anywhere in real-time within its radar.

The US has also sent a variety of other weapons to Ukraine to help them in their fight against Russian aggression. These include drones, communication equipment, body armor, and night vision goggles. The US has also provided training and advisory support to Ukrainian forces to help them better use these weapons and improve their overall military capabilities.

While some have criticized the US for sending lethal aid to Ukraine, arguing that it could escalate the conflict with Russia, others argue that it is necessary to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. In any case, the US remains committed to supporting Ukraine and its efforts to resist Russian aggression.

Conclusion

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for several years, and the situation remains tense. The US has provided significant military aid to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russian aggression. This aid includes a wide range of lethal weapons, including anti-tank missiles, artillery systems, and rocket launchers. The US has also provided training and advisory support to Ukrainian forces to help them better use these weapons and improve their overall military capabilities. While some have criticized the US for sending lethal aid to Ukraine, others argue that it is necessary to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. In any case, the US remains committed to supporting Ukraine and its efforts to resist Russian aggression.