The missiles will replenish previously provided Patriot air defense systems and are part of a package that also includes additional munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), and additional equipment to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing armament, much of which still dates back to older Soviet-era systems.

In a statement, the Defense Department called the new package “historic,” marking the two-year anniversary of the creation of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

This latest assistance for Kyiv is being provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and leverages “funding appropriated in the recently enacted Further Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act,” including equipment to enhance Ukrainian air defenses and artillery capabilities, as well as replenish previously committed U.S. capabilities, the statement said.

The Defense Department clarified that through the USAI, the United States can procure military equipment from U.S. industry or from partner nations, and today’s announcement “represents the beginning of a contracting process to procure additional priority capabilities for Ukraine.”

In addition to munitions for Patriot and NASAMS, the new package includes the transfer of counter-unmanned aerial systems, radars, precision aerial munitions and additional munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and 155mm and 152mm artillery rounds, unmanned aerial systems, tactical vehicles and small arms.

“This USAI package demonstrates the United States’ strong and unwavering commitment to meeting Ukraine’s most urgent needs for both immediate and long-term battlefield capabilities to counter Russian aggression as part of the global coalition of approximately 50 allies and partners we have built,” the Defense Department said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pressing for more weaponry, including long-range missiles and air defense systems, among them “at least seven” Patriots.

This latest tranche of support from Washington, worth $6 billion, comes the same week the U.S. Senate approved a new $61 billion military aid package after months of deadlock.

The upper chamber of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday night passed a $95 billion overall package to aid Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan by a vote of 79-18.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the following day that a shipment of war materiel was headed to Kyiv “in the next few hours.”

The White House announcement marked the end of a protracted political standoff, with congressional Republicans blocking military assistance to Ukraine over differences with Democrats.

“We rose to the moment. We stood united. And we got it done. Now we need to act quickly,” Biden said at a White House event to sign the foreign aid measure into law.

Ukraine has relied on financial and weapons assistance from Western allies since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, 2022.

Kyiv’s allies have also imposed sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy in an attempt to degrade Moscow’s ability to finance its war effort in Ukraine.

Now in its third year, the Ukrainian armed forces have faced shortages of weapons and ammunition despite repeated pledges of support from Western allies.

[News updated at 8:50 p.m.]

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