US approves sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine
The United States has formally approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, the State Department said Thursday, confirming a move expected to anger Kiev’s foe Russia.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Ukraine has asked President Donald Trump’s US administration for permission to buy 210 missiles and 37 launchers at a cost of around $47 million.
US government employees and contractors will help transport the weapons and train Ukraine’s forces, who are fighting a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of the country, to use them.
“The Javelin system will help Ukraine build its long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defense requirements,” the statement said.
The United States and its Western allies back Ukraine in its struggle to reunite its country after Russia annexed the Crimea region and pro-Russian rebels seized two eastern industrial regions.
But Washington has been cautious in the past about escalating the conflict by providing advanced “lethal” weaponry to Kiev, which may provoke a further degradation in tense ties with Moscow.
Nevertheless, the DSCA statement said: “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
If no-one in the US Congress objects to the sale, contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin will be able to begin supplying the weapons within two months.
More from Land Warfare
-
![US Army’s future autonomous launcher nears next phase with awards expected in August]()
US Army’s future autonomous launcher nears next phase with awards expected in August
The Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) is the US Army’s main effort to provide an autonomous or optionally crewed missile launcher, with more details revealed at a CSIS webinar discussion this week.
-
![“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential]()
“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential
In Conversation… Ahmet Akyol, CEO of ASELSAN, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about how the rapid evolution of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) is transforming the battlespace, with militaries focused on both deploying these platforms to maximum effect and developing the defensive systems needed to counter them.
-
![Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question]()
Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question
Using lasers to defeat drones promises to solve the dilemma of using expensive kinetic effects to kill platforms worth a few hundred dollars. While maintaining thermal output to provide the effects can be a technical hurdle, Israel’s Esh-Tech is one company working on a solution.
-
![How Pearson Engineering combines tradition with innovation for the demining mission (Video)]()
How Pearson Engineering combines tradition with innovation for the demining mission (Video)
At Eurosatory 2026, Pearson Engineering's Group CEO Ian Bell talked about the company's role in delivering specialist armoured engineering, route-clearance and demining capabilities to military customers around the world.
-
![France’s artillery rocket competition aims for sovereign solution as contest enters decisive phase]()
France’s artillery rocket competition aims for sovereign solution as contest enters decisive phase
France’s requirement for a replacement MLRS is intended to provide the country with a sovereign capability to bolster the country’s strategic autonomy, with a final platform expected to be in service by 2030.
-
![Raytheon UK team awarded US$2.7 billion British Army training contract]()
Raytheon UK team awarded US$2.7 billion British Army training contract
The British Army’s Collective Training System 15-year contract is planned to provide soldiers with an integrated, digitally enabled system and transform how they train, prepare and adapt for future missions.
