The Trump administration has approved an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine, marking the first major new weapons sale to Kyiv under the current administration, CNN reported on 28 August.

ERAM may provide Ukraine a new, affordable, and precise standoff strike capability with a range up to around 400 km, helping Ukraine engage targets deeper behind the front lines while reducing the risk to its aircraft. Details regarding potential restrictions on the missiles’ use remain unclear.

According to the report, the missiles could be delivered later this year if the sale proceeds as expected. The ERAM missiles have a range of 150-280 miles and will be accompanied by 3,350 GPS/INS navigation systems.

The State Department announced the proposed sale on 28 August, following meetings between President Donald Trump and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. The announcement came after a night of deadly Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

“Ukraine will use funding from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway and Foreign Military Financing from the United States for this purchase,” the State Department notice reported. The department emphasized that “the ERAM is an example of working together with our NATO allies to develop a capable and scalable system capable of being delivered on a fast timeline.”

While the Trump administration has previously approved sales of equipment to maintain existing weapons systems, this represents the first major arms sale of new weapons to Ukraine announced by the administration, according to CNN.

The State Department justified the sale by noting it “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

The timing of the announcement coincides with ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that have yet to produce results.

According to European media reports cited by CNN, the missiles could arrive in Ukraine within six weeks of the sale’s completion.