US announces new missiles as part of £4.8bn aid package for Ukraine

The US will provide Ukraine with more Patriot missiles for its air defence systems as part of a massive six billion dollar (£4.8 billion) additional aid package, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has announced.

The missiles will be used to replenish previously supplied Patriot air defence systems.

They are part of a package that also includes more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and additional gear to integrate Western air defence launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing weaponry, much of which still dates back to previous Soviet-era systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the need for Patriots early yesterday at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries gathering virtually in a Pentagon-led meeting.

The meeting fell on the second anniversary of the group, which Mr Austin said has “moved heaven and earth” since April 2022 to source millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armoured vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia’s invasion.

Mr Zelensky said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities.

“We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them,” he said.

“This is what can and should save lives right now.”

At a Pentagon press conference following the meeting, Mr Austin said the US was continuing to work with allies to resource additional Patriot systems but did not commit to sending more US versions.

“It’s not just Patriot that they need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well,” he said. “I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet.”

US officials said the aid package will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which pays for longer-term contracts with the defence industry and means that it could take months or years for the weapons to arrive.

The funding for Ukraine was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

This is what can and should save lives right now