The Pentagon’s newest weapons package deal to Kiev could point out a looming counteroffensive, the Washington Put up suggests
The US could also be serving to Ukraine put together for an impending counteroffensive in opposition to Russia, The Washington Put up claimed, pointing to the kind of weaponry making up the newest batch of navy assist pledged to Kiev by the Pentagon.
Whereas earlier shipments laid particular emphasis on M777 howitzers and a number of HIMARS rocket launch techniques, the newly-announced $800 million package deal options 40 bomb-resistant automobiles (MRAP) and missile launchers with shorter ranges.
The MRAP armor is supposed to guard personnel from explosions and bullets whereas the rollers connected to the car’s entrance assist create passages in mine fields.
A senior US protection official, who spoke to reporters this week on the situation of anonymity, famous that the “mine-clearing is a very good instance of how the Ukrainians will want this type of functionality to have the ability to push their forces ahead and retake territory.”
Washington has additionally pledged to offer Kiev with TOW missiles, which the Put up notes could be mounted on a heavy tripod or on a car like a Humvee, permitting troops to fireside a missile and shortly depart to keep away from return hearth.
The newest tranche additionally contains Carl Gustav recoilless rifles and a couple of,000 rounds for them. That weapon’s vary of some hundred meters is way nearer than the gap between Ukrainian and Russian forces alongside many of the frontline in the mean time.
Nevertheless, Rob Lee, a senior fellow with the International Coverage Analysis Institute and professional on the Russian navy, advised the Put up that the make-up of the newest batch of weapons isn’t proof of an imminent counteroffensive.
Washington may merely be dipping into shares it was already divesting from to keep away from transport different superior weapons to Ukraine. As an example, the US was already planning to retire Humvees, MRAPs, and TOW missiles.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if there was an financial ingredient to this,” Lee concluded.
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