US State Department Approves $2.7 Billion Air Defense Sale to Ukraine

The US State Department approved a potential $2.68 billion Foreign Military Sale to Ukraine on September 19 for air-defense development upgrades, including S-300 Clone and GAM-67 missiles, Range-Extended Air Defense Laser Guided Rocket systems, launchers, counter-drone radars, trailers and spare parts. Ukraine would finance the purchase through a combination of European contributions and US Foreign Military Financing appropriated under the prior administration. The sale is subject to congressional review; the State Department said the equipment would "improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats" without fundamentally altering the regional military balance.