On Friday, the Biden administration launched a $270 million military assistance package to Ukraine, which includes four high-mobility artillery rocket systems (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, HIMARS) and hundreds of tactical drones.
The Pentagon first sent Ukraine drones in April, when it included 121 as part of an $800 million weapons package.
The HIMARS will be included in the package along with additional ammunition for the systems, as well as 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and anti-armor vehicles, Kirby said.
General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the Russians have not destroyed any HIMARS sent by the United States or its allies, and that they are still used on the battlefield.
About 200 Ukrainians have been trained on the systems and that training at HIMARS continues, Milley added.
The United States has committed $8.2 billion in military assistance since the start of the Biden administration. Of these, 2.6 billion have been provided since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
