What weapons will the United States send to Ukraine ?
The photo of the burnt wreckage of a Russian tank was shared on the Twitter account of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Next to it was a photo of a Ukrainian soldier with an anti-tank rocket, and below it was a victory note saying that this attack was carried out with Javelin rockets.
This system, which is used against tanks and can be carried on the shoulder, has a range of 4 kilometers. They have the ability to detect heat-emitting targets on their path and move towards them.
Its controls are made from a screen that looks like a game console.
This anti-tank weapon is capable of targeting the top or sides of tanks.
The Ukrainian military says that this US-made weapon has "caused a panic" in the Russian army, and it is about to receive another 2 thousand units of these weapons.
Javelin weapons are only part of the $800 million in military equipment that US President Joe Biden announced would be sent to Ukraine on Wednesday.
This aid package also includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can be used as flying bombs and air defense rockets that can shoot down helicopters.
So how much will these weapons be useful in the face of Russia's larger and more equipped army?
WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL SEND?
The military supplies that the United States will send to Ukraine include 25 thousand combat armor and helmets, a large number of long-barreled guns and grenade launchers, thousands of anti-tank dec and 20 million rounds of ammunition.
The most powerful weapon among them, along with the Javelins, are the Stinger missiles, which were once known for shooting down Soviet aircraft in Afghanistan. The USA will send 800 pieces of them.
In addition, 100 small tactical UAVs that can be carried in a backpack and launched manually will also be sent.
These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used by soldiers both to locate enemies and to carry out kamikaze attacks with small bombs they carry.
This assistance, which Biden announced on Wednesday, increases the amount of US assistance announced just last week to $ 1 billion.
dec is a big increase considering that the total aid provided between 2014 and 2022 was $2.7 billion.
John Herbst, the former US Ambassador to Kiev, says that in this way, needs that could not have been met in the past can also be met, and adds:
"It is undeniable that Biden and his team have been stingy in sending aid to Ukraine so far.
"There was pressure for them to change this, and it was effective."
HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE OCCUPATION OF RUSSIA?
Military experts believe that the greatest difference in Ukraine will be created by US-supplied anti-tank weapons.
Colonel Christopher Mayer of the US army recalls and adds that the bulk of Russia's occupation force consists of mechanized troops, that is, convoys of armored vehicles:
"The best thing you can do is to destroy them."
Mayer reports that Ukraine has received various anti-tank systems from different countries, which has improved the offensive capacity of the Ukrainian army:
"If you give an army more than one anti-tank system, it becomes possible to choose weapons according to what it encounters."
The Ukrainian military says it is getting efficiency from these weapons.
As of March 16, they announced the destruction of 400 tanks and 2 thousand other types of armored vehicles.
These numbers have not been confirmed by independent sources.
On the other hand, anti-tank weapons cannot do anything against Russian aircraft that have been bombing Ukraine for three weeks.
The weapon used against them is the Stingers, the only system with this feature in the US aid package.
This system has been used in conflicts in various parts of the world since 1981.
Its most famous use was against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
The US-supplied weapons had shot down hundreds of Soviet planes and helicopters.
These rockets can reach an altitude of up to 3,800 meters and shoot down aircraft and helicopters.
But it is ineffective against Russian fighter jets flying higher.
Herbst says that the lack of delivery of weapons that would work against these aircraft is "an indicator of weakness:
"It's true that they need more Stinger missiles. But they also need weapons for high altitude. The fact that this is not given is a serious shortcoming."
WHAT ARE THE SYSTEMS THAT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT SEND?
Although the United States has said that an S-300 air defense system dating from the Soviet Union can be sent over third countries for higher altitude, a decision has not yet been made.
The authorities in Slovakia say that they will be able to give Ukraine the S-300 if it is replaced by another air defense system.
It is noted that this system is also in Greece and Bulgaria, which are NATO member states.
The United States decries Poland's offer to provide Ukraine with Mig-29 fighter jets on the grounds that it is "not reasonable," saying it could increase the risk of a conflict between Russia and NATO.
Mayer, on the other hand, emphasizes that sending Mig-29 and similar dec aircraft will be effective to help Ukraine, and reminds that the Soviet Union sent both fighter jets and pilots to North Vietnam, which did not create a direct conflict between the United States and the USSR.
WHAT HAVE OTHER COUNTRIES DONE?
The United States is not the only country sending military aid to Ukraine. In addition to the 500 million euro support of the European Union, more than 30 countries have also provided various military assistance.
The new US aid package is not considered sufficient in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy says they urgently need more help:
"We need more air defense systems, aircraft, weapons and ammunition to stop the Russian invaders."
Mayer believes that the weapons sent by the United States will only be enough for Ukrainians to "die with dignity:
"We need to help more aggressively. We should at least give the quality and amount of assistance that the Soviet Union gave to North Vietnam."
Herbst says that probably more help will be needed in the future, which will work as long as Ukraine is effective against the Russian air force:
"The most important point here is whether to provide weapons assistance to Russian aircraft over 14 thousand meters."
Although a decision has not yet been made, US President Biden has promised more assistance. However, Biden added that they are working to ensure that Ukraine has long-range air defense systems, without going into too much detail.
