U.S. Commitments: Ukraine Security Assistance Mobilizes Defense Industrial Arsenal Against Russian Invasion

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Since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has demonstrated unwavering commitment to aiding Ukraine in defending its sovereignty against the Russian aggressors. This dedication has ignited a remarkable response within the U.S. defense industrial base (DIB), with industry partners stepping up to provide essential equipment and capabilities. As of the latest updates, the U.S. has committed approximately $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, with a multifaceted approach involving both presidential drawdown authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Presidential Drawdown Authority and Equipment Replacement Through presidential drawdown authority, the U.S. has pulled equipment from its military inventory and dispatched it to Ukraine. This equipment transfer is essential for bolstering Ukraine’s defenses against the Russian invasion. However, it also necessitates a commitment to replace the equipment within the U.S. military’s inventory to maintain its readiness. As of mid-November, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has allocated nearly $17 billion to procure replacements for the equipment dispatched to Ukraine from U.S. stocks.

Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) In tandem with the drawdown authority, the U.S. government has engaged in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This initiative involves contracting directly with defense industry partners to manufacture and provide new equipment to Ukraine as it becomes available. DOD has allocated over $10 billion in funds towards the USAI, ensuring a continuous flow of equipment and capabilities to support Ukraine’s defense.

Nationwide Impact The commitment to support Ukraine has had a nationwide impact across the United States. The Defense Department’s obligations for PDA replenishment and USAI orders have exceeded $27 billion, directly influencing prime vendors and critical suppliers in 37 states. This widespread involvement reflects the collaborative effort to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities and highlights the extensive reach of the U.S. defense industrial base.

Expanding and Modernizing Production Lines In addition to procuring equipment, the U.S. Department of Defense is actively involved in expanding and modernizing the production capabilities of defense contractors. With a commitment of approximately $3.3 billion across 18 states, these investments aim to increase the capacity of the DIB to produce vital defense capabilities. Among the items being produced are the 155 mm artillery round, the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, and Stinger and Javelin missiles. This expansion reinforces the U.S. defense industrial base’s ability to meet the growing demands for critical defense equipment, not only for Ukraine but also for U.S. military readiness.

In the words of William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, “Across the board, the response of our U.S. industrial base to meet Ukraine’s defense needs has been truly historic.” The concerted nationwide effort in collaboration with industry partners has played a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine during this challenging period.

As the situation continues to evolve, the United States remains steadfast in its commitment to assist Ukraine and bolster its defense capabilities in the face of Russian aggression. The collaboration between the U.S. government and the defense industrial base underscores the importance of international partnerships in ensuring global security and sovereignty.

U.S. COMMITMENTS

Total U.S. Security Assistance Committed Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion on February 24, 2022

  • 155mm Rounds : 2M+
  • 155mm Howitzers : 198
  • Stingers : 2,000+
  • HIMARS : 39
  • Javelins : 10,000+
  • NASAMs : 12
  • Abrams : 31
  • Patriot Batteries : 1
  • Bradleys : 186
  • Strykers : 189

Commitments also include a wide range of other vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, small arms, communications equipment, protective gear, and other supplies and services.The United States continues to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with additional capabilities to defend itself.

CONTRACTING ACTIONS

Rapidly Producing and Procuring Systems using UndefinitizedContract Actions (UCAs), Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts, and Other Tools

Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
Procuring defense articles directly from industry to support Ukraine

  • Obligated : $ 12.3B
  • Committed : $18.9B (Denotes all amounts for which the Department has notified Congress on its intended use)
  • Remaining : $ 0.0B
  • Appropriated : $18.9B

Ukraine Presidential Drawdown Replacement


Replacing equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks

  • Obligated : $ 18.0B
  • Committed : $25.9B (Denotes all amounts for which the Department has notified Congress on its intended use)
  • Remaining : $ 0.0B
  • Appropriated : $25.9B

INDUSTRIAL BASE EXPANSION
Increasing Critical Capability Manufacturing Capacity

Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III – $746M

  • Solid Rocket Motors : $216M
  • Missiles and Munitions : $30M
  • Strategic andCritical Materials : $500M

Ukraine Supplemental and Replenishment Funding – $3.3B

  • 155mm : $1.9B
  • GMLRS : $361M
  • Javelins : $349M
  • Stingers : $62M
  • Other : $600M+

E.O. 14017 FY23 Funding – $691M – Not exclusively for Ukraine-related support

  • Kinetic Capabilities : $330M
  • Energy Storage : $7M
  • Castings & Forgings : $70M
  • Microelectronics : $170M
  • Critical Materials : $114M

USAI CONTRACT AWARDS

Equipment (1)Obligated($M)AwardeeContract Award Date (2)
155mm Ammunition1,783Various SuppliersAug 22
Other Ammunition756Various SuppliersJun 22 –Apr 23
APKWS548BAE SystemsMay –Nov 22
NASAMS1,132RaytheonAug –Nov 22
Other Air Defense Systems / Missiles1,432Various SuppliersMultiple
HIMARS242Lockheed MartinAug 22
M777310Various SuppliersNov 22
VAMPIRE56L3HarrisJan 23
cUAS146Various SuppliersDec 22
PhoenixGhost517AEVEXApr –Aug 22
PUMAUAS318AeroVironmentApr 22
Switchblade300/ 60083AeroVironmentMay–Sep22
Radars152Various SuppliersApr –Sep 22
Radio and Communications Equipment1,013Various SuppliersApr 22 –Apr 23
Optics and Small Arms48Various SuppliersApr –Jun 22
Tactical Vehicles1,130Various SuppliersApr 22
Maritime Craft30Various SuppliersFeb 23
Other (3)2,620Various SuppliersMultiple
Total Awarded (4)12,316
As of 15 January 2024.(1) Includessupportingequipment,includingcomponentparts,trainingmanuals,spares,etc.Somesmallercomponents mayhavedifferentawardees. (2) Total published contract value may be greater than obligated amount due to award ceiling and/or additional sources of funding beyond USAI. (3) Includespersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE),medicalsupplies,transportation,spare parts,andotherservices. (4) Total may not reflect sum of individual amounts listed due to rounding.

REPLACEMENT CONTRACT AWARDS

Equipment (1)Obligated ($M)AwardeeContract Award Date (2)
155mm Ammunition2,711Various SuppliersNov 22 –Feb 23
Other Ammunitionand Weapons3,103Various SuppliersSep 22
AMRAAM40RaytheonAug 22
Javelin1,514Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin JVMay –Sep 22
Stinger788RaytheonMay 22
HIMARS602Lockheed MartinAug –Dec 22
GMLRS904Lockheed MartinSep 22 –Apr 23
Switchblade 30021AeroVironmentAug 22 –Mar 23
AN/TPQ-53 Radar System372Lockheed MartinOct 22
Tactical and Combat Vehicles (3)3,190BAE, Oshkosh, AMMar 23
Other (4)4,746Various SuppliersOct 22
Total Awarded (5)17,991
As of 15 January 2024.(1) Includessupportingequipment,includingcomponentparts,trainingmanuals,spares,etc.Somesmallercomponents mayhavedifferentawardees. (2) Total published contract value may be greater than obligated amount due to award ceiling and/or additional sources of funding beyond replenishment.(3) Includes HMMWV, AMPV, FHTV, FMTV and related facilitization. (4) Includes radars, radar modifications, vehicles, facilitization, and other services. (5) Total may not reflect sum of individual amounts listed due to rounding.

INDUSTRIAL BASE IMPACTS

USAI + REPLACEMENT OBLIGATIONS : $30.3B

Data includes USAI obligations and Presidential Drawdown Replacement obligations (Supplementals 1-4), andrepresents prime vendors and critical Suppliers. Mapped values reflect major systems only; not all funds are reflected.

DIRECT INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS

SUPPLEMENTAL FOUND $3.3B

Data includes Ukraine Supplemental funds directly invested to improve industrial base production capacity (Supplementals 1-4), andrepresents government-and contractor-owned facilities and critical suppliers. Mapped values reflect major systems only; not all funds are reflected.

In the meantime…….

Strengthening Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: The Strategic Role of Aid to Ukraine

In a recent and pivotal statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Navy Admiral Samuel J. Paparo emphasized the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia, highlighting a nuanced approach to international security that underscores the interconnectedness of global geopolitical dynamics. As President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command—currently under the command of Admiral John C. Aquilino—Paparo’s insights offer a compelling analysis of how aid to Ukraine could serve as a deterrent to China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Admiral Paparo’s nomination comes at a critical juncture for U.S. military strategy, particularly in the face of China, which is considered America’s “pacing challenge” within the vast expanse overseen by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This command, the largest combatant command in the U.S. military, is at the forefront of the United States’ strategic military interests, especially in relation to China’s growing assertiveness.

During his testimony, Paparo articulated a vision where support for Ukraine transcends mere regional assistance and becomes a cornerstone of broader strategic deterrence, particularly in relation to China. He suggested that China is closely observing Russia’s actions in Ukraine, not as a cautionary tale of overreach, but rather as a playbook for achieving rapid, decisive victories that could reshape global perceptions and realities to its advantage.

Admiral Paparo’s analysis is grounded in the belief that Russia’s challenges in Ukraine serve as a deterrent in the Indo-Pacific, reassuring U.S. partners and allies in the region. He stressed the importance of a supplemental budget aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities, arguing that such support is crucial not only for Ukraine’s sovereignty but also for reinforcing deterrence against Chinese aggression. According to Paparo, China’s leadership appears undeterred by the visible challenges of military aggression, instead focusing on strategies that minimize the warning time for strategic, operational, and tactical maneuvers.

The Admiral underscored the indispensable role of U.S. forces and the necessity of collaboration with allies and partners in the region. This network of alliances and partnerships, he noted, forms the United States’ primary asymmetric advantage over China. Through joint and combined operations that are increasingly frequent, complex, and interoperable, the U.S. and its allies aim to maintain regional stability, safeguard sovereign rights, and deter conflict with China, which continues to exhibit increasingly aggressive behavior.

Paparo’s career, spanning 37 years in the Navy with diverse roles including commanding a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan and participating in exchange programs flying Air Force F-15C fighters, positions him as a seasoned leader well-versed in the complexities of modern military strategy and international diplomacy. His commitment to enhancing the joint force’s readiness and his dedication to working closely with allies, partners, and other U.S. government agencies underscore the integrated approach required to address the multifaceted challenges posed by China, Russia, North Korea, and violent extremist groups.

In closing his testimony, Paparo paid tribute to the senior noncommissioned officers who have shaped his career, highlighting the vital role of the NCO corps in maintaining the strength and agility of the American joint force. His acknowledgment of these leaders not only reflects his personal gratitude but also underscores the collaborative spirit essential for the success of military endeavors.

As the Senate considers Admiral Paparo’s nomination, his perspectives on the strategic significance of aid to Ukraine and its broader implications for deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region offer a nuanced blueprint for navigating the complex web of global security challenges. His approach, emphasizing the interrelation of global conflicts and the importance of a united front among allies and partners, sets a strategic course aimed at preserving stability and preventing conflict in a rapidly evolving international landscape.


REFERENCE SOURCE : U.S. Department of Defense – https://www.defense.gov/


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