White House announces $2.3 billion in arms for Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The White House has announced a $2.3 billion arms program for Ukraine that includes equipment from the Pentagon’s stockpile and long-term contracts for air defense weapons with Lockheed Martin Corp. and RTX Corp., according to U.S. officials.

“The Biden-Harris administration is announcing a significant new security assistance package for Ukraine as the United States continues to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasion,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Wednesday.

The short-term withdrawal of U.S. stockpiles amounts to about $150 million. Most of that money, about $2.1 billion, will go to Lockheed and RTX under long-term contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin previewed the plan Tuesday, saying it would allow the U.S. to buy more Patriot missiles and NASAMS air defense interceptors. He added that the U.S. would speed up deliveries by “reorganizing” shipments for some foreign military sales.

Last month, the White House revealed that it had ordered contractors to delay deliveries of Patriot and NASAMS missiles to allies that had previously ordered them, directing them instead to Ukraine in an effort to support the country amid Russia’s ongoing aerial bombardment. The new funding will be used to fund that effort.

NASAMS stands for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and is similar to the system that protects the National Capital Region in Washington.