The US government is considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine as part of a further package of military support, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.
A final decision hasn’t yet been made, one of the people said. When the vehicles would be operational is also unclear, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.
A White House spokesperson, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the US is in constant communications with Ukraine on the capabilities it needs to defend itself but had nothing to announce or preview.
Kyiv has been asking allies for tanks, longer-range missiles, armor and air defense systems, with Russia’s war now in its 11th month. Fighting continues on the ground in the east even as the onset of winter has slowed advances by either side, leaving Moscow resorting to missile strikes against the country’s energy and civilian infrastructure.
The US also has announced plans to send a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine. But it’s also unlikely to be ready to use before the spring, due to the time it takes to train Ukrainian troops on the system, the people said.
In addition to serving as a lightly armored transport for soldiers, a US Army website says the Bradley’s capabilities include “reconnaissance, fire and maneuver, and ‘hunter-killer”’ engagements.