WASHINGTON: The United States has announced USD 820 million in additional support for Ukraine, including advanced anti-aircraft and aerial defence systems and more ammo for sophisticated rocket systems, the Department of Defence said in a statement.

The new weaponry cost a total of USD820 million and was delivered in two sections, according to a statement released on Friday. Additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems will be included in the USD50 million in assistance that will be obtained through the use of President Joe Biden's presidential drawdown authority, which allows him to directly access the arsenal of American weapons already in existence.

The remaining USD 770 million falls under the Ukraine Security  Initiative, through which the US government contracts with arms companies to make weapons for Ukraine.

The US will give Ukraine two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems in this phase and also 150,000 rounds of 155 mm howitzer ammunition and four counter-artillery radars, the report said.

Since the Biden administration began in January 2021, the US has provided over USD7.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including approximately USD6.9 billion since Russia began its continuing invasion of Kiev on February 24.

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