Ukraine’s use of US weapons

Ukraine’s armed forces recently posted some pictures on Twitter. In one photo, the wreckage of a burnt Russian tank is lying in the rubbish.

Another photo shows a Ukrainian soldier with a weapon on his shoulder. It is claimed that the Russian tank was destroyed with this weapon. The photo posted on Twitter is linked to the victory of the Ukrainian forces. It is said that the bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a Russian military base.

The javelin is a shoulder-carrying tank-destroying weapon. Rockets fired from here can hit targets up to four kilometers away. The portable device that controls it is not much different from the display of video games. However, it can project a one-meter-long projectile directly on or above the armored vehicle.

The Ukrainian military says the United States has sophisticated weapons, causing panic among Russian troops. The United States has sent thousands of such weapons.

Among the weapons sent to Ukraine under various military aid packages are javelin missiles. Kiev has received more than কো 300 million in military aid since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a new কোটি 600 million aid package for Ukraine. The package calls for the shipment of heavy ammunition, howitzers and tactical drones for use in eastern Ukraine. Biden has also banned Russian-flagged ships from entering US ports. Other weapons sent so far include flying bombs and anti-aircraft weapons, which can be used to shoot at helicopters.

However, the question is whether the well-equipped Russian forces can be defeated with the shipment of these weapons. An analysis by the BBC sought to answer that question.
What weapons did the United States send to Ukraine?

The security assistance package recently announced by the United States for Ukraine includes a number of Howitzer cannons. 1 lakh 44 thousand rounds of ammunition and strategic drones will also be sent in this package.
Last Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said, “We are in a very precarious situation, which will prepare the ground for the next phase of this war.” He further said that the war is going on now with the predominance of Danbas area. In such a situation, the United States is supplying arms to Ukraine considering its needs.

The earlier aid package announced by the United States included weapons, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), helmets and rifles, armored vehicles and huge military equipment, including Soviet-era helicopters. The list also includes a number of powerful weapons, including javelin missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft systems. The Stinger anti-aircraft system was used to bring down Soviet aircraft in Afghanistan.

The United States has also sent hundreds of switch blade drones. These can crush the target before it explodes.
U.S. defense officials were reluctant to supply weapons that Ukrainian forces were not accustomed to handling. A Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby, said this week that some Ukrainian troops would be trained on how to use switch blade drones and other ammunition.

The Pentagon on Thursday said it was providing “ghost drones” to Ukraine. It has the same capabilities as the switch blade. Kirby claims the air force quickly built the drone, keeping in mind Ukraine’s needs. The scope and capabilities of the Ghost Drone have not been specified.

How useful are these weapons in the case of an attack on Russia?
Military experts say the weapons that Ukraine has proved effective since the start of the war include US-supplied anti-tank weapons.
According to former U.S. Army Colonel Christopher Maier, Ukraine has received a wide range of anti-tank weapons from a number of countries. This has increased the capability of Ukrainian forces against Russian military vehicles.

Ukrainian officials claim they are taking advantage of the weapons. Russia has so far demanded the destruction of more than 700 tanks and 2,000 military vehicles. However, their claims could not be independently verified, the BBC reported.

However, Ukraine will not be able to resist the Russian air force with these anti-tank weapons. This will require anti-aircraft weapons. As of April 6, the United States had provided about 25,000 such weapons to Ukraine. Notable among these is the stinger system, which can be carried and thrown over the human shoulder.

The use of such weapons has been observed in various conflict zones around the world since 1971. The most common use is in Afghanistan. The United States has provided stingers to Afghanistan to bring down hundreds of Russian planes and helicopters. It can bring down planes and helicopters flying at about 12,400 feet. It is ineffective to bring down a Russian bomber flying higher than that. Acquiring the ability to shoot down such aircraft is now a top priority for the Ukrainian army. In particular, they have become active after some of their own air defenses were destroyed in the war.
In mid-April, neighboring Slovakia sent Soviet-era S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. These missiles are capable of hitting aircraft flying high. Slovakia has sent these missiles under an agreement with the United States. According to the agreement, the United States will have to deploy an anti-aircraft missile-Patriot missile in Slovakia.

What did the United States not send?

The United States has so far refused to send its own tanks to Ukraine. Their argument is that Ukrainian troops are not familiar with these warships.

In a statement to the Pentagon on April 19, Kirby said, “The tanks that they (the Ukrainian military) know how to use are not in our arsenal. However, some countries have sent some tanks for them, some countries have sent spare parts so that they can reuse them in the damaged tanks.
The United States has promised to send 16 MI-17 helicopters to Ukraine, but has not. They said they planned to send Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine from other countries, such as Poland.

Allies of the United States are supplying spare parts to Ukraine. So far, the Ukrainians have been able to continue fighting against the Russian air force.

On April 20, a senior defense official said Ukraine now had 20 more aircraft than three weeks ago. This was made possible by the spare parts sent by the Allies.