US State Department approves sale of Javelin missile systems to Ukraine
The US Department of State has approved the sale of 37 Javelin anti-tank weapons systems and 210 missiles to Ukraine in exchange for $47 million, Radio Liberty reports.
"The Javelin system will help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defense requirements. Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing this system into its armed forces," the Pentagon's March 1 statement reads.
The Department said that the proposed sale will not affect the military balance in the region.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated that the agreement will include training, technical assistance, transportation and other logistics aspects.
The US defense budget for the 2018 fiscal year provides $350 million in defense assistance for Ukraine, including the possibility of transferring lethal weapons.
in January, US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch said that the US government would provide Ukraine with free weapons, including Javelin anti-tank systems.
The Javelin is an American portable anti-tank missile system designed to destroy armored vehicles and tanks, as well as UAVs, helicopters and propeller-driven aircraft approaching for landing. One system, equipped with 6 rockets, is valued at more than one million US dollars.