Ukrainian National Guard receives first delivery of 500 grenade launchers from US
The United States has delivered the first shipment of RSRL-1 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers to the National Guard of Ukraine. Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov spoke about this on his Facebook page.
“The 40-mm RPG-1 complex was launched by AirTronic in 2016 and is effective in defeating the enemy's firearms and armored targets. The rifle range is 800 m, [which is] compatible with all existing RPG shots; the barrel life is 1000 shots," wrote the minister, pointing out that " a new powerful modern weapon has come for the protection of Ukraine. " According to Avakov, this was done within the framework of the development strategy of the department.
He also noted that the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs has developed a special program to train the National Guard on how to use new weapons.
Avakov did not specify under what conditions Ukraine received the weapons.
It became public knowledge in August 2017 that the US Department of State and the Pentagon agreed to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. The project included anti-tank complexes and other systems designed to "restrain Russian aggression”; however, at that time, final approval had not yet been received by US President Donald Trump.
The first commercial delivery of lethal weapons from the US was approved in December 2017. A permit was issued to supply Ukraine with semiautomatic large-caliber M107A1 sniper rifles, ammunition, and related details and accessories for a total of $41.5 million.
In March 2018, the State Department approved the sale of 37 Javelin anti-tank missile systems and 210 missiles to Kyiv for $47 million. The Javelins arrived in Ukraine at the end of April.
In early May, the US House of Representatives Budget Committee presented a draft national defense budget for fiscal year 2019, including a planned allocation of $250 to Kyiv for security purposes. The Embassy of Ukraine noted on its Facebook that this is $100 million more than this year. At the same time, $50 million is proposed to be sent "exclusively to provide [Ukraine] with lethal weapons of a defensive nature."