Washington – President Joe Biden has authorized an $800 million military assistance package for Ukraine that, for the first time, includes American‑made 155 mm howitzers. Eighteen of the towed cannons— a design in U.S. service since World War II—will be shipped to Kyiv, accompanied by 40,000 rounds of compatible artillery ammunition.
The aid bundle also delivers a broad array of additional weapons and equipment: 300 Switchblade loitering‑munitions drones, 500 Javelin anti‑tank missiles, and 11 Soviet‑origin Mi‑17 helicopters that were originally procured for Afghanistan. Supporting systems comprise two air‑surveillance radars, ten counter‑artillery radars, several armored personnel carriers, Humvees, and naval drone vessels intended for coastal defense. Protective gear for chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological threats is included as well.
Until now, U.S. support to Ukraine has largely focused on anti‑tank missiles, small arms and drone systems that helped blunt the Russian advance on Kyiv. The arrival of the howitzers marks a shift toward longer‑range, high‑volume firepower, reflecting a strategic pivot as Russian forces pull back from the north and prepare for a new offensive in the east.
The 155 mm howitzer fires a nearly 100‑pound projectile up to 15‑20 miles, a range and firepower suited to the open terrain and armor‑on‑armor engagements expected in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have traditionally relied on Soviet‑era 152 mm guns, which use a different caliber. The introduction of the U.S. artillery therefore creates a separate ammunition supply line; the 40,000 rounds included in the package will sustain operations only for a limited period in a prolonged artillery duel.
In addition to the howitzers, the package’s 11 Mi‑17 transport helicopters will bolster logistical and medical capabilities. The aircraft, previously stored after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, are familiar to Ukrainian crews, minimizing the need for extensive retraining. Their primary roles will be moving troops and supplies and evacuating casualties, rather than direct combat.
The Switchblade loitering munitions add a flexible strike option. Launched from a tube, each drone flies to a selected target and detonates on impact. The mix of models in the shipment includes variants optimized for personnel and for armored vehicle destruction, tools that proved effective in Ukraine’s northern theater and are expected to be valuable against Russian columns in the east.
Overall, the assistance brings the total U.S. security aid pledged to Ukraine since the February 24 invasion to $2.6 billion, with this tranche representing the largest single contribution and the first to feature American artillery. The Pentagon has emphasized speed, stating the howitzers will arrive within days rather than weeks as Kyiv braces for the anticipated eastern push.
Analysts note that the inclusion of long‑range artillery signals a U.S. assessment that the conflict may evolve into a war of attrition on the eastern front. Whether the rapid delivery of these systems can keep pace with the evolving battlefield remains a key question for both Washington and Kyiv.
