U.S. military aid to Ukraine strengthens the U.S defense industry

Most of the weapons and defense systems that are supplied to Ukraine are provided under a drawdown from Department of Defense stocks.  These are often legacy and decades old technology systems that can now be replaced with orders for new and modernized systems from U.S. defense contractors.  Money from Ukraine aid funding will be used for these purchases. Some example include:

•  M2A2 Bradly Infantry Fighting Vehicles, introduced in the 1980's, are being replaced with modern Bradley A3s. (Image: Shipment of Bradleys to Ukraine,  Oz Suguitan, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. DoD).

• PAC-2 PATRIOT missiles, introduced in the 1980's, can be replaced with more modern PAC-3 missiles.

• Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), introduced in 1986, can be replaced with Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM).

• Stinger antiaircraft missiles have not been built since 2005 but production is being restarted to replace units sent to Ukraine.

• Production is being started to build Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAMER) air-launched GPS-guided conversions for dumb bombs.

• 155mm artillery shell production lines are being expanded at existing plants and facilities are being modernized for increased artillery propellant production.

• Two new factories for 155mm artillery shells are being commissioned in Camden, Ark. and Mesquite, Tex. - with expansions and new production a sevefold increase in production capacity is expected.

• A newly developed munition, the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), is now being produced for use with HIMARS rocket launchers.

• Several weapon systems given to Ukraine such as the GMLRS rockets, Excalibur artillery shells, and others have been shown to be vulnerable to electromagnetic warfare methods and GPS inaccuracies in targeting.  This translates into valuable real-time knowledge that will help the U.S. to harden these and similar systems for future capability.

• Ukrainian battle experience with the Switchblade drones has shown them to be not as effective as expected, especially in a hostile electromagnetic environment.  The U.S. Army has decided to stop procuring them for its own use.

• Abrams tanks and tanks in general have been shown to be susceptible to losses from drone detection and attacks.  This is important information for future battle strategy.

• Poland sent 250 older Soviet and German tanks to Ukraine resulting in orders for 250 U.S. M1A2 Abrams tanks to replace them - a $4.75 billion order for U.S. companies.

• Poland is buying 96 Apache helicopters ($12 billion) from the U.S. after sending its older Soviet M-24 attack helicopters to Ukraine.

• Norway is purchasing 52 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. after donating its old F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

• Denmark and the Netherlands are buying F-35s to replace 61 F-16 jets which they are donating to Ukraine.