World

US Reportedly Mulling Sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine in Future Aid Package

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is considering including Bradley Fighting Vehicles in a future US military assistance package for Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
Sputnik
A final decision to send the Bradleys to Ukraine has not been made, the report indicated, also noting that it remained unclear as to when said vehicles would even be operational.
Mark Cancian, a former White House defense budget analyst, told the outlet that the "Bradley would provide a major increase in ground combat capability because it is, in effect, a light tank" as opposed to the previously issued M113s.
The lightly armored Bradley vehicle is armed with a 25 mm gun and TOW anti-tank missiles.
However, the report underscored that even if the Bradley were dispatched, it would be months before they would be in use on account of the required training. A similar issue has also emerged in regards to the Patriot missile defense system that the US only more recently announced would be provided to Ukraine.
Military
Report: Pentagon Plotting to Give Ukrainian Militants Patriot Missile Training at Bases Within US
A Pentagon spokesperson, when asked about the report, said there are no security assistance announcements to make at present.
Moreover, the report said, citing to sources, that the Patriot missile defense system that the United States will send to Ukraine will not become operational before the spring due to the extensive training Ukrainian forces will undergo.
In fact, earlier reports indicated that the US Defense Department was considering the possibility of training Ukrainian soldiers stateside, more specifically at US bases within the US. To date, training provided to Ukraine's forces have been conducted across European countries, such as Poland and Germany.
Discuss