U.S. to send Ukraine anti-drone, air defense aid worth $275 million - Reuters

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The United States is preparing to nonstop Ukraine a $275 cardinal subject assistance bundle offering caller capabilities to decision drones and fortify aerial defenses, according to a papers seen by Reuters connected Thursday and radical acquainted with the package.

The bundle could beryllium announced arsenic aboriginal arsenic Friday. Details of the anti-drone and aerial defence instrumentality included could not beryllium determined.

The Pentagon is besides expected to see rockets for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), 155mm ammunition, Humvee subject vehicles and generators, according to the radical and the document.

A National Security Council spokesperson declined to remark connected the assistance package. The contents and size of assistance packages tin displacement until they are signed by the president.

The $275 cardinal volition beryllium covered by Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) which allows the United States to transportation defence articles and services from stocks rapidly without legislature support successful effect to an emergency.

Russia's surge successful rocket strikes successful Ukraine is partially designed to exhaust Kyiv's supplies of aerial defenses and execute dominance of the skies supra the country, a elder Pentagon authoritative said successful November.

To antagonistic these attacks, the United States has sent blase anti-aircraft NASAMS systems to Ukraine which person been moving for a fewer weeks.

Washington previously announced it was sending 4 Avenger short-range aerial defence systems that usage Stinger missiles, made by Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N), and HAWK interceptor missiles.

U.S. allies person besides been sending aerial defence systems.

Since the Russian penetration of Ukraine connected Feb. 24, which Moscow calls a "special subject operation", the United States has sent astir $19.1 cardinal worthy of information assistance to Kyiv.

U.S. lawmakers voted connected Thursday to supply Ukraine astatine slightest $800 million successful further information assistance adjacent year.

Reporting by Mike Stone successful Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman

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