The Biden administration is preparing the largest package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine to date, worth roughly $3 billion, according to two defense officials.
The administration could announce the package as early as Wednesday, the officials said, which is not only Ukraine’s independence day but is also six months to the day since Russia invaded.
The package is expected to fall under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which draws weapons and equipment from private industry rather than the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which draws from the U.S. stockpile.
The package may include drones and other weapons from private industry with newly developed capabilities, a response to the Defense Department’s request this year for industry to develop and speed new capabilities to Ukraine.
The Pentagon specifically asked for air defense, anti-tank and unmanned aerial systems and communications equipment.
Many of the systems will not be in the hands of Ukrainian fighters for months or years because they’re still being developed, the officials said.