The United States has diverted 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally intended for Ukraine to its forces in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed this decision in an interview with ABC News, expressing disappointment and concern over the redirection. These missiles, designed to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones, were part of a project developed under the Biden administration in coordination with then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Background of the Missile Diversion
The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles were procured under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a program that allocates billions of dollars in US government funds to purchase weapons and equipment from American defense contractors. Although the systems were purchased for Ukraine, US law permits the Secretary of Defense to reallocate the equipment to American forces in cases of “urgent need”. According to reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the transfer of APKWS anti-aircraft missiles to US forces in the region, citing an urgent need to supply American forces in the Middle East.
Impact on Ukraine’s Defense
Ukraine is currently facing significant challenges from Russian drone attacks, particularly swarms of Shahed drones. The diversion of these missiles has raised concerns about Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against these aerial threats. Zelensky emphasized the importance of these missiles in bolstering Ukraine’s defense, stating, “We have big problems with Shaheds… we will find all the tools to destroy them. We counted on this project, 20,000 missiles. Anti-Shahed missiles. It was not expensive, but it’s a special technology”.
Concerns and Implications
The decision to divert these missiles has sparked concern among Ukraine’s supporters in Congress, who question the urgency of the US need and how this shift will affect Ukraine’s air defenses. This move has also raised concerns about precedent, particularly whether a future administration could reallocate remaining contracted weapons to other operations under the same “urgent need” provision. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has warned that Russia is preparing to escalate drone warfare, potentially launching over 500 long-range drones in a single night.
US Military Aid to Ukraine
The US has provided significant military aid to Ukraine, with $11.4 billion in military aid received through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) as of December 31, 2024. Another $11.2 billion has been spent on contracts for future deliveries, while a further $10.6 billion has been allocated but not yet contracted. However, since the beginning of Trump’s second term in January, his administration has halted the approval of new US military aid packages to Ukraine, citing reservations about prolonged military support for Kyiv.
