WASHINGTON DC – The US State Department on Friday approved two potential foreign military sales to Ukraine with a combined estimated cost of over $329 million.
The announcement, made by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), comes as the Trump administration continues to seek a negotiated settlement between Kyiv and Russia.
The sales package includes critical sustainment for Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems and an extension of its Starlink satellite communications.
According to the DSCA, the proposed sales are intended to support US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a key European partner.
The agency stated that the aid will improve Ukraine’s ability to “meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust defense capability.”
Patriot and Starlink deals: ‘A welcome sign from Washington’
The larger of the two sales, an estimated $179.1 million, is for the sustainment of Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems.
This comprehensive request from the Ukrainian government includes a wide array of support, such as classified and unclassified spare parts, maintenance support, software updates, and system modifications.
The deal also provides for US government and contractor technical assistance, training, and logistics support services. RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractors.
A separate $150 million sale will provide an extension of satellite communications services for Ukraine’s Starlink terminals.
This includes US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services. Starlink Services is the primary contractor.
George Barros, a geospatial intelligence team lead and Russia analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, called the Patriots sale “very welcome news.”
Ukraine’s only effective system against ballistic missiles
Speaking to Kyiv Post on Friday, Barros noted that “Patriots are the only system Ukraine has that can effectively intercept Russian ballistic missiles – a key capability necessary for maintaining Ukraine’s air defense in Kyiv.”
Barros also highlighted the importance of the Starlink announcement, stating that the service “plays a critical role in frontline command and control and ensuring that drones are controllable.”
He elaborated: “Without Starlink many critical systems that Ukrainian forces rely on wouldn’t work. There are some alternative technologies, but Starlink is the preferred solution.”
‘Interesting’ timing
The timing of the Starlink announcement is “interesting, as Colby Badhwar, a security analyst with the research group Tochnyi, put it.
Speaking to Kyiv Post, the expert highlighted that Poland is potentially cutting off its contract with Starlink for services for Ukraine.
“These sales are months in the making so I wouldn’t say it’s a result of what Poland is doing but hopefully it means that there won’t be any interruption experienced by Ukrainian forces that are relying on it,” he said.
Perhaps the more significant US military sale for Ukraine is Extended Range Attack Munition, – announced a day before – “for obvious reasons,” the analyst said, referring to a separate $825 million arms sale that will provide Kyiv with a new long-range missile capability at a critical juncture in the conflict.
The DSCA concluded that Ukraine will have “no difficulty absorbing” the articles and services into its armed forces, and that the proposed sales “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
The final cost of the sales may be lower than the estimated total, depending on final requirements and signed agreements.