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| UK to Supply Ukraine With Advanced Weapons 'AMRAAM' to Counter Russian Missiles |
London - United Kingdom on Thursday (13/10/2022) announced it would supply Ukraine with advanced weapons capable of shooting down Russian cruise missiles. This supply of advanced weapons is the first by London since Moscow invaded Kiev in February.
The weapon is the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). These missiles will be deployed on the US-supplied Norwegian/National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). Britain's announcement came after Western allies vowed on Wednesday to quickly send new air defenses to Ukraine to increase protection against Russian air strikes.
On Monday, Russia bombed some 16 cities in Ukraine with missiles heavily. This mass attack was claimed in retaliation for the explosion that hit the Crimea Bridge, Europe's longest bridge built by Moscow to connect Crimea with mainland Russia.
"AMRAAM rockets...will be provided in the coming weeks for use with the NASAMS air defense systems promised by the US," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement. "The rockets will help protect Ukraine's important national infrastructure," the ministry continued.
Britain also said it would send hundreds of drones to support Ukraine's intelligence services as well as 18 howitzer artillery guns, in addition to the 64 already delivered. "These weapons will help Ukraine defend its skies against attack and strengthen their overall missile defense alongside US NASAMS," said British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called on G7 countries including Britain to help Kiev create an "air shield". NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the "top priority" of Western support for Ukraine was to give Kiev more air defenses to protect against indiscriminate Russian attacks. Defense ministers from the Western military alliance are scheduled to meet on Thursday in Brussels.