The US has thousands of outdated missiles that could immediately save Ukraine. Instead of being disposed of, these significant missile stocks could be transferred to Ukraine at no additional cost, says Former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainska Pravda reports.
On 8 July, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would send more weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against intensified Russian attacks. For the first time since taking office in January this year, Trump plans to use presidential powers to transfer a weapons package to Ukraine,
according to Reuters. He preliminarily intends to send arms worth up to $300 million from existing Pentagon resources.
Zaluzhnyi notes that despite efforts to maintain support for Ukraine, European countries have proven unprepared for the rapid transformation of their defense industries, lagging behind Russia and primarily the capabilities of the US. He says some European countries are preparing for war as it was during World War II, burdening their budgets and failing to understand that the war since 2022 is of a different kind.
Moreover, in conditions of geopolitical instability, the very structure of Europe is expected to change. He states that European leaders fear their own electorates, who are not ready for worsening living conditions.
“Under such circumstances, expectations for long-term and, most importantly, urgently needed assistance should be approached with great caution,” he claims.
At the same time, the US remains a country of virtually unlimited capabilities and the world’s most developed economy.
“Today, the US holds significant stocks of outdated or soon-to-be-decommissioned missiles, the transfer of which to Ukraine could be an effective solution,” emphasizes the former Ukrainian commander-in-chief.
This armament requires no additional budget costs for disposal and is critically necessary for Ukraine.
By the end of 2023, the US had produced over 170,000 Hellfire missiles of various modifications. A significant portion of these munitions were manufactured between 1998 and 2018. They typically have a service life of 20 to 25 years, after which they require official write-off or disposal.
The AGM-114 Hellfire is used against tanks, armored vehicles, bunkers, buildings, and personnel. The missiles can be launched from helicopters, drones, and ground vehicles.
Furthermore, as part of a long-term Pentagon program, there is a gradual transition to the new JAGM missile system, which is replacing Hellfire both operationally and in production.
Therefore, Zaluzhnyi suggests that many of the outdated weapons will be either disposed of or transferred to other allied countries.
“Ukraine can take advantage of this opportunity by systematically submitting official requests under various programs, justifying the need for urgent reinforcement of its defense capability and guaranteeing the US’s rational management of the stockpiles,” he concludes.
Earlier, sources reported that Trump planned to send Ukraine weapons through NATO. The proposed route would involve selling arms to the allies, who would then pass them on to Ukraine. The suggestion had already been discussed with European partners and Ukraine.
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