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Ukraine weapons: What tanks and other equipment are countries giving?

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Artillery in UkraineImage source, Getty Images

Ukraine continues to press for more funding from western allies, warning that its war effort against Russia is at risk if further aid is not forthcoming.

The US is by far the largest contributor of arms to Ukraine.

The amount of military aid given to Ukraine is tracked by the Kiel Institute, the current data accounts for donations until the end of October.

It tracks money already provided to Ukraine and pledges to send funds in the future.

The White House recently approved another tranche of US military aid to Ukraine worth some $250m (£195m).

The latest package includes air defence, artillery and small arms ammunition, and anti-tank weapons, US officials say.

The EU will miss its target of supplying Ukraine with 1m artillery shells by March 2024, according to the German defence minister.

Earlier this month a €50bn EU aid package for Ukraine was blocked by Hungary.

Poland, which has been a major donor, said in September that it would stop supplying Ukraine with weapons in a dispute about the country's grain exports.

Ukraine has received SCALP missiles from France - similar to the Storm Shadow missiles delivered by the UK.

Tanks

Dozens of tanks have been committed and Ukraine says they are urgently needed.

  • The US is sending 31 Abrams tanks
  • The UK is providing 14 Challenger 2 tanks
  • Germany is providing 14 Leopard 2 tanks
  • Spain says it's sending six Leopard 2 tanks

The Leopard 2 is used by a number of European countries, and is considered to be easier to maintain and more fuel-efficient than most other Western tanks.

During the first months following the invasion, Nato preferred member countries to supply older tanks - which Ukraine's armed forces knew how to operate and maintain.

Ukraine used Soviet-era T-72 tanks prior to the invasion, and since February 2022 has received more than 200 T-72s from Poland, the Czech Republic and a small number of other countries.

The UK led the way in Nato by offering a more modern tank - the Challenger 2, which was built in the 1990s.

Announcing the US decision to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, President Joe Biden described them as "the most capable tanks in the world".

The US and the UK are also providing depleted uranium tank rounds, which are effective at piercing armour.

However, depleted uranium is slightly radioactive and there are concerns that the rounds could contaminate the soil.

Combat vehicles

Military professionals point out that success on the battlefield requires a vast range of equipment, with the necessary logistical support in place.

The Stryker is one of the many armoured vehicles that have been donated to Ukraine. The US confirmed that 90 Strykers would be dispatched.

The US has also donated Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, which were used extensively by US forces in Iraq.

Air defences

In December 2022, the US announced it was sending the Patriot missile system to Ukraine - and Germany and the Netherlands have followed suit.

This sophisticated system has a range of up to 60 miles (100km), depending on the type of missile used, and requires specialised training for Ukrainian soldiers, likely to be carried out at a US Army base in Germany.

The system is expensive to operate - one Patriot missile costs about $3m.

Since the start of the conflict, Ukraine has also been using Soviet-era S-300 surface-to-air systems against Russian attacks.

Before the conflict began, Ukraine had about 250 S-300s and there have been efforts to replenish these with similar systems stockpiled in other former Soviet countries, with some coming from Slovakia.

The US has also provided Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) to Ukraine. The first Nasams arrived in Ukraine in November 2022.

In addition, the UK has provided several air defence systems, including Starstreak, designed to bring down low-flying aircraft at short range.

Long-range rockets

Among the long-range rocket launchers sent to Ukraine by the US are the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System or Himars. Several European countries have sent similar systems.

Himars is believed to have been central to Ukraine's success in pushing Russian forces back in the south, particularly in Kherson in November 2022.

The Himars system is more accurate and has a longer potential range than the Smerch system used on the Russian side.

Howitzers

In the months following the invasion and Russia's retreat from Kyiv, much of the war centred on the east of the country where supplies of artillery to Ukraine were in heavy demand.

Australia, Canada and the US were among the countries to send advanced M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine.

The range of the M777 is similar to Russia's Giatsint-B howitzer, and much longer than Russia's D-30 towed gun.

Nato countries say they are planning to ramp up their supply of shells, because Ukraine has been using them much at a faster rate than they are being delivered.

They are asking their domestic manufacturers to increase production.

Ukrainian officials said during the spring that Russian forces were firing 25,000-30,000 shells a day, up to four times the number that Ukraine's military could fire.

Anti-tank weapons

Thousands of Nlaw weapons, designed to destroy tanks with a single shot, have also been supplied to Ukraine.

The weapons are thought to have been particularly important in stopping the advance of Russian forces on Kyiv in the hours and days following the invasion.

Drones

Drones have featured heavily in the conflict so far, with many used for surveillance, targeting and heavy lift operations.

Turkey has sold Bayraktar TB2 armed drones to Ukraine, while the Turkish manufacturer of the system has donated drones to crowd-funding operations in support of Ukraine.

Analysts say the Bayraktar TB2s have been extremely effective, flying at about 25,000 feet (7,600m) before descending to attack Russian targets with laser-guided bombs.

What about fighter jets?

The US had repeatedly rebuffed Ukraine's pleas for fighter jets, instead focusing on providing military support in other areas.

But in May 2023, President Joe Biden announced the US would support providing advanced fighter jets - including US-made F-16s - to Ukraine and also back training Ukrainian pilots to fly them.

The US endorsement also allowed other nations to export their own F-16 jets, as the US legally has to approve the re-export of equipment purchased by allies.

Denmark and the Netherlands have since confirmed that they will supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

A joint coalition of countries, including the UK, have agreed to help train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s and to help train Ukrainian ground crew to maintain the aircraft.

The first cohort of Ukrainian pilots are now receiving training from the Royal Air Force in Denmark to learn how to fly F-16s after completing a basic training plan, according to the UK government.

Additional reporting by David Brownd and Thomas Spencer. Graphics by Gerry Fletcher and Sana Dionysiou.