A no-fly zone over Ukrainian skies is not a hypothesis. The allies have reiterated this several times, despite the pressing requests of President Zelensky, NATO has categorically excluded it. Countering the Russian fighters in the skies would mean marking an irreversible step towards an escalation of the war, and starting a new type of conflict. European, if not global. And then arms are being sent to Ukraine which is resisting under the bombs of Moscow. So many weapons. The most technologically advanced and “useful” possible. Weapons that strike from the sky. American President Biden has announced a package of military aid worth nearly one billion dollars, to which European ones are added. Long-range missiles, anti-helicopter and anti-aircraft rockets, anti-tank weapons. And still rocket launchers but also “simple” rifles and pistols. And an avalanche of ammunition. Here are all the weapons that in the next few days will help the Kiev army to continue its resistance, but at the same time to counterattack where possible.
S-300 anti-missile systems – Ukraine can currently shoot down Russian planes and cruise missiles at relatively close range. Washington intends to provide Kiev forces with systems capable of striking more distant Russian planes. According to a US military source, these are Soviet-Russian-made S-300 systems, which the Ukrainian army is already capable of using. Both the United States and some NATO countries have these systems or their components. Slovakia, where Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin is on a mission these days, has already given its willingness to send S-300s to Ukraine.
Stinger antiaerei – The United States will also supply an additional 800 Stingers, already used effectively by the Kiev army against Russian helicopters and low-flying jets. These are shoulder-mounted missiles that through portable rocket launchers are able to shoot down enemy fighters.
Javelin – Anti-tank weapon with an infrared automatic guidance system that allows the missiles to locate the target and center it following the heat of the engines. Western allies have already sent about 17,000 to Ukraine.
“Kamikaze drones” Washington will send 100 Switchblade drones to Ukraine, essentially remote-controlled flying bombs with cameras. Dubbed “kamikaze drones”, Switchblades (translated, roughly “jackknife”) can strike at long range. They are light weapons, relatively expensive (around 6000 euros) that can be carried in a backpack: once launched they can fly for about forty minutes until they reach the target set by a ground operator. The drone is launched from a tube, much like mortars. A precise and lethal weapon, used for the first time in Afghanistan by US special operations forces and then adopted by the army and marines as well. The smallest, Switchblade 300, can hit a target up to 20km away while the largest, Switchblade 600, can hit more than 50km. Both systems can be configured and started in minutes.
Guns, ammunition, bulletproof vests – The new military aid package also includes 7,000 new anti-armor weapons, thousands of machine guns, rifles and grenade launchers, 20 million bullets and small arms ammunition compliant with Russian and NATO standards, and 25,000 body armor and helmets.