US State Department approves potential military sales to Ukraine

WASHINGTON

The US State Department approved possible military sales to Ukraine worth $203.5 million, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The package includes equipment, repair services, and sustainment support for M777 Howitzers and related equipment for an estimated cost of $104 million, and transportation and consolidation services and related equipment for around $99.5 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

"The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s ability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust local sustainment capability," it added.

The principal contractor for equipment, repair services, and sustainment support for the howitzers will be BAE Systems, which is based in the UK, the statement said.