Ukraine asks US to send THAAD air defense systems and F-18 jets to repel Russian attacks

Ukraine has asked the United States for new types of weapons to repel Russian attacks. The requested weapons include modern air defense systems, F-18 Hornet fighters, drones, Apache helicopters, and Black Hawk helicopters. 

The US has already invested $27 billion in defense contracts for Ukraine, according to documents seen by Reuters, Rubryka reports.

Officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense presented a "list of weapons to meet the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" during a closed meeting at a conference in Washington on Wednesday, attended by government officials and defense industry leaders.

The list includes weapons Ukraine already has, such as Abrams tanks and 155mm artillery, as well as some new additions like F-16s, drones, and long-range ATACMS missiles that were previously requested.

However, a few surprises include the expensive C-17 Globemaster aircraft from Boeing and the C-130 Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin.

The requested weapons also include:

• F-18 Hornet fighters
• Three types of drones from General Atomics, including the MQ-9B Sky Guardian
• Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system from Lockheed

About Weapons

THAAD is a powerful missile defense system designed to intercept ballistic missiles up to 200 km away and at altitudes of 100-150 km. It is considered advanced but costly and tied to the US satellite system.

The F/A-18 Hornet is a US carrier-based fighter-bomber developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in the 1970s. It is a primary combat aircraft for the U.S. and is also used by other countries.

The MQ-9B Sky Guardian is a reconnaissance drone with a wingspan of 20 meters, developed by General Atomics. It can reach speeds of up to 480 km/h and has a maximum flight duration of 24 hours.

Apache is a US attack helicopter widely used in the US, and Black Hawk helicopters are already in Ukraine's arsenal.

C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Super Hercules are transport planes designed to carry military personnel and resources. They are also used for strategic cargo drops, airborne troop deployments, and medical evacuations.

The United States has already invested $27 billion in defense contracts for Ukraine

During a speech at the Defense Industry Conference on December 6, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin mentioned that the US has invested billions in its own defense industry to produce critical weapons for Ukraine. He stressed the need for Congress to approve additional funding for US national security, with a significant portion benefiting the American industrial base.

Austin stressed the importance of working with allies and partners to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression. He highlighted the development of bilateral partnerships in the defense industry as a crucial contribution to US national security interests.

The Ukrainian delegation, led by the Head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak and Defense Minister Rustem Umierov, visited the US. The delegation held meetings with legislators, government officials, and US businesses.

On December 6, Washington hosted a new defense industry forum, where President Volodymyr Zelensky invited US defense companies to collaborate with Ukraine. During the US-Ukraine conference, the US announced joint production of weapons focused on hybrid anti-aircraft systems.

On the same day, the US provided Ukraine with a new military aid package, including additional ammunition, artillery, tank weapons, and cartridges for small arms.