The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has announced that Bulgaria will be providing components for Ukraine’s S-300 air defense system. This announcement was made during a weapons supply meeting in Brussels, as reported by TASS. Austin stated, “Bulgaria will transfer components to help Ukraine strengthen its S-300 air defense systems.” In addition, the Pentagon chief mentioned that Germany will provide Ukraine with the Patriot system, missiles, two IRIS-T air defense systems, and 10 Leopard tanks.
Earlier, Austin revealed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) will receive F-16 fighter-bombers no earlier than the spring of 2024. He emphasized that American officials had previously made predictions regarding the transfer of these aircraft to Kyiv, stating that “months” would be needed for their delivery to the UAF.
Furthermore, during a press conference, Austin discussed the establishment of several Western country coalitions to provide assistance to the Ukrainian government. The United States will lead a coalition focused on the development of the Ukrainian Air Force. Austin stated that one of the main objectives will be the transfer of F-16 fighters to the country’s military.
It is worth noting that the US recently announced the allocation of a new aid package to Ukraine, amounting to $200 million. This support is aimed at further strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
