The U.S. State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to Ukraine valued at $825 million, which includes thousands of air-launched missiles and associated equipment. The approval, announced on August 28, comes as Ukraine faces some of the heaviest Russian missile strikes in recent months.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the proposed package would include up to 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs)—a precision-guided missile designed for air-launch—along with support systems such as GPS guidance kits, electronic countermeasure protections, mission planning tools, training, and spare parts.
While the U.S. has authorized the sale, much of the funding is expected to come from European partners through the “Jump Start” initiative. This initiative involves contributions from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, in coordination with U.S. Foreign Military Financing.
The U.S. government emphasized that the sale aligns with American foreign policy and national security interests by enhancing Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and contribute to stability in Europe.
The announcement followed a deadly Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on August 28, which killed at least 21 people, including four children, and injured dozens more. Ukrainian officials described it as one of the deadliest assaults on the capital in months.
This escalation underscores the urgency of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and strike capabilities, particularly as negotiations between the U.S. and Russia remain stalled. A recent high-level meeting between President Trump and President Putin in Alaska reportedly yielded no diplomatic breakthrough.
The ERAMs are designed for long-range precision and are resistant to jamming and electronic warfare, making them particularly valuable for countering Russia’s continued use of drones and ballistic missiles.
If finalized, the sale would provide Ukraine with one of the most significant air-launched strike packages since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
