As a result of a deficiency in defense systems, Western partners struggle to meet escalating demands to protect Ukraine’s airspace from missile and drone assaults.
The United Kingdom will send Ukraine for the first time several strong missiles to defend against Russian airstrikes, but not the launchers.
Instead, the AMRAAM rockets, which are capable of intercepting cruise missiles, will be used to arm air defense systems that the United States will send to Ukraine.
Due to a lack of availability of these systems, Western allies gathered in Brussels this week are failing to answer increasingly urgent requests from the Ukrainian government to safeguard its airspace against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Wednesday at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, after chairing a contact group of NATO members and other partners who have pledged military help for Ukraine, he stated, “Well, definitely it’s not a lack of will.
“The commitment and resolve that the chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mike Milley] and I observed in today’s contact group meeting was encouraging,” I told the group members. They remain committed to generating extra capability by any means possible.”
However, a senior diplomat told that a lack of air defense systems was a significant barrier restricting the ability of allies to meet Ukraine’s demands.
Following the end of the Cold War, the United Kingdom and other NATO countries cut their defense spending, lowered the size of their armed forces, and reduced their stockpiles of armaments.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has prompted a reevaluation of their collective security funds, but it will take time to replace supplies.
In the coming weeks, the British air defense missiles, believed to number in the double digits, will arrive in Ukraine.
Ben Wallace, the defense secretary, stated in a statement posted by the Ministry of Defense on Thursday, “Russia’s recent indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine necessitate more support for those seeking to protect their homeland.”
“Therefore, I have authorized the delivery of AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine today.”
These weapons will assist Ukraine in defending its skies against aerial assaults and bolstering its total missile defense alongside NASAMS.
As NATO defense ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss additional support for Ukraine, he told that there was no danger of Western allies running out of weapons to support Ukraine because, “unlike Russia,” the West can “refurbish or manufacture a new supply chain, which is what we’re doing right now.”
Mr. Wallace stated that he would not “speculate” on how NATO would respond to a nuclear attack by Russia on Ukraine, adding, “The fundamentals are that NATO is an alliance of all types, conventional and nuclear powers, and the fundamentals are that we are here to ensure that we are prepared for whatever is thrown at us.”
Washington has agreed to deliver eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine, with the first two anticipated to arrive soon and the remaining six over a longer period.
Additionally, Germany has delivered one air defense system, with three more scheduled for delivery next year.
In addition to the new rockets, the United Kingdom will donate hundreds of extra, less potent air defense missiles, hundreds of drones, and 18 additional howitzer artillery pieces.
The news was made while NATO defense ministers met in Brussels for a second day on Thursday, though Mr. Wallace was absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
They are expected to discuss methods to replenish their own munitions stocks, collaborate to acquire weapons for their security, and maintain long-term support for Ukraine.
