The U.S. government has authorized the sale of 3,350 new ERAM missiles to equip the Ukrainian Air Force’s fleet of F-16 fighters, aiming to significantly expand its arsenal for long-range strike missions by providing a lower-cost weapon compared to its current alternatives. In this way, the U.S. State Department officially confirms what was reported on August 27, when the $825 million package—funded with support from European allies—was first disclosed.
Expanding on the details of the package, in addition to the 3,350 ERAM missiles, an identical number of GPS and INS systems as well as Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM) will be included. The official statement released by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) also specifies the delivery of storage containers for the new weapons, fuel pylons, spare parts, related software, and training for operating personnel.
As for which European allies will contribute funding to the deal, the DSCA lists Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Washington will also draw on its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program. Overall, the DSCA describes the acquisition as “an example of collaboration with our NATO allies to develop an effective and scalable system, with rapid delivery.”
The main contractors involved will be Zone 5 Technologies and CoAspire. At present, neither these companies nor the U.S. government are expected to negotiate any offset agreements for the deal to move forward. Nor is it anticipated that additional U.S. representatives will be deployed to Ukraine for this purpose.
It should also be noted that Ukraine’s Armed Forces will not only see their missile strike capabilities strengthened by this new package, but also through the recent unveiling of the domestically developed Flamingo system. As reported on August 20, Ukrainian officials, including Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, indicated that this new weapon could strike targets up to 3,000 kilometers away, and that production is already underway.
This is particularly significant, as it would allow Ukraine to conduct long-range attacks without relying on potential U.S. authorization—a matter that has gained renewed importance in recent weeks. Reports from Washington suggest that President Donald Trump’s administration has barred Kyiv from using weapons such as ATACMS ballistic missiles to strike targets inside Russian territory, as part of an effort to send a goodwill signal to the Kremlin amid negotiations that could bring an end to the war launched in 2022.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only
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