The United States has sent a shipment of 60 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine, the U.S. Armed Forces Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) said.
“A shipment of more than 60 Bradleys left North Charleston, South Carolina, last week; they will provide Ukrainian forces with additional offensive and defensive capabilities,” the statement said.
At the same time, it is indicated that the U.S. Transportation Command of the Armed Forces is delivering the first batch of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine as part of a $2.85 billion military assistance package, which was announced earlier in January.
The Bradley has a three-man crew and can carry up to six infantrymen in a troop compartment. The BMP entered service in 1981, and a total of 9,753 copies of different versions were produced. They were used by U.S. troops in the wars in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The total amount of U.S. military aid to Ukraine since February 2022 was $27.1 billion, the command recalled.
A new package of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, including Bradley BMPs, will be announced Friday, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said.
“I can confirm that the announcement of the next batch of military aid to Ukraine is expected on Friday. As outlined by the White House, that assistance will include deliveries of Bradley combat vehicles,” he told reporters.
The Associated Press earlier reported citing U.S. officials that the U.S. will send Ukraine a new package of military aid worth $2.85 billion, which for the first time will include several dozen unified tracked Bradley platforms. This delivery will be the largest in a series of military equipment packages that the Pentagon has allocated to Kiev.
In addition to the Bradley, Ukraine will also receive HMMWV military cargo vans, MRAP armored wheeled vehicles with enhanced mine protection, as well as a large shipment of missiles and other munitions.
Reuters reported that the U.S. will supply about 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Ukriane.
Politico quoted its sources as saying that the United States for the first time will supply Ukraine with Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, ground-launched radar-guided missiles designed to intercept aircraft or cruise missiles.
The publication notes that only Taiwan has the land-based version of the Sea Sparrow in service. The US Navy and close allies use the ship-based version.
