As of today, the US has significant stocks of obsolete or ready for disposal missiles, the transfer of which to Ukraine could be an effective solution, because this weaponry will not require additional budget expenditures for disposal, and they are vital for Ukraine. This was stated by former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi in an article for Ukrainian Pravda.
Thus, he said that by the end of 2023, the US had manufactured more than 170,000 Hellfire missiles of various modifications. A significant part of this ammunition was producted in 1998-2018, and their service life is usually 20-25 years, after which they require official decommissioning or disposal. As part of the Pentagon's multi-year program, a gradual transition to the new JAGM system is underway, which is replacing Hellfire in production and operations. Therefore, a significant part of the outdated weapons will be disposed of or transferred to other allied countries.
"Ukraine can take advantage of this chance by systematically sending official requests within the framework of various programs, arguing the need for operational strengthening of defense capabilities and guaranteeing the US rational management of stocks," Zaluzhnyi said.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in the meantime, Trump promised Zelenskyy in a telephone conversation to immediately send 10 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine - fewer than planned in the suspended supply and to help find other ways of supply.
According to The Guardian, low stocks of critically important missiles for Patriot systems led to the administration of US President Donald Trump suspending their deliveries to Ukraine.
Recall that on July 2, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly reported in a comment to NBC News that the US had decided to stop the supply of some weapons to Ukraine.
It was previously reported that the US has already resumed supplies of 155-mm shells and GMLRS missiles to Ukraine.
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