The United States elevates Ukraine as a priority recipient of anti-aircraft missiles for air defense systems.

CNN reported on this.

The Biden administration has made Ukraine a priority recipient of anti-aircraft missiles from the United States.

According to the officials, the anti-aircraft missiles that the United States will supply to Ukraine play an important role in protecting the country from the Russian threat, in particular from constant rocket attacks and drone strikes.

According to some congressmen, the transfer of anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine is critical amid the constant shelling of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.

For this reason, the United States will prioritize the transfer of MIM-104 anti-aircraft missiles to the Patriot system, as well as AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for NASAMS air defense systems.

“If we didn’t do this for Ukraine, they would not have been able to maintain their critical air defense stockpile heading into the winter,” the U.S. official said.

As the United States realizes that its production is somewhat limited, it is making great efforts to postpone the transfer of anti-aircraft missiles to other export customers without losing the order.

Ukraine is expected to get its first exports of air defense capabilities this summer, and the policy change will stay in place for 16 months.

The priority of supplying Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles arose after the U.S. presidential administration gave the green light to the use of American weapons on Russian territory.

In addition to the United States, other participating countries provide money and buy anti-aircraft weapons for Ukraine as part of the German Air Defense Initiative.

Militarnyi previously reported that the Norwegian government contributed a financial package to strengthen air defense and purchase 100 anti-aircraft missiles for Patriot systems.