Why has the US increased sending heavy weapons to Ukraine?
More than eight weeks after the war broke out in Ukraine, the United States has just begun to transfer heavy weapons to this country to defend against Russian forces.
U.S. president Joe Biden on April 21 announced a new military aid package worth $800 million to Ukraine including 72 155 mm howitzers, 144,000 artillery shells and more than 120 drones.
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US soldiers fire M777 155 mm cannon during training in Hawaii US Army |
This batch of weapons increases the total value security aid of the US for Ukraine has increased to $ 3.4 billion since the campaign military of Russia starting on February 24. This is an unusually large amount of military aid from the US to a country without a mutual defense treaty.
Suitable for combat
The new batch of weapons was supplied at a time when the war was entering a pivotal phase, according to President Biden. Observers say that the increased US supply of heavy artillery to Ukraine shows Washington’s commitment to the decisive phase of the war.
Heavy weapons such as howitzers are becoming a staple in the war in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. The relatively flat terrain in this area is suitable for mobile warfare, that is, using long-range artillery such as 155 mm howitzers to support the advance of tanks and other infantry forces. The Russian side is said to be deploying similar tactics in Donbass with more artillery, infantry and other supporting equipment for a long war.
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“What makes these weapons important is the type of combat we anticipate in the Donbass. Since the terrain is open, flat, not urban, we can expect the Russians to rely on firepower. range, specifically artillery,” said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.
US officials say Russia is adjusting tactics in Ukraine after the initial setbacks. After losing control of Kyiv, Russia limited its target and focused on the Donbass region and the coastal corridor from Mariupol to the Crimean peninsula. One of Russia’s advantages is that this region is close to Russian territory, shortening the supply route compared to the northern Ukrainian front.
Need but not enough
The grenade sent to Ukraine is the M777, the newest American model and is being used by the army and marines. Smaller in size and more maneuverable than the older model, the M777 can be deployed by a transport helicopter and towed by a 7-ton truck.
The first of 72 howitzers are expected to be shipped to Europe this weekend, a senior US defense official said. Last week, the US agreed to supply another 18 guns to Ukraine and some of them are in Europe. Ukrainian soldiers have been trained to use these artillery since April 20 in a European country.
In addition, the US provided radar to help Ukraine target Russian artillery, sky surveillance radars and drones. The type provided in the latest aid package is called Phoenix Ghost, manufactured by Aevex Aerospace (USA). Al-Jazeera radio quoted Mr. Kirby as saying that this drone has similar features Switchblade provided by the US to Ukraine is to attack directly on targets and is equipped with cameras. He said this drone is especially suitable for the terrain in Donbass.
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Retired US rear admiral Mark Montgonery, now an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (USA), said artillery and drones are what Ukraine needs as Russia takes the next phase in eastern and southern Ukraine.
However, the new weapons are not believed to be enough to stop the Russian offensive and President Biden has asked Congress to approve more funding to provide more weapons to Ukraine.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: thanhnien.vn – Read the original article here
