Sentinel radars detect drones, cruise missiles, helicopters and airplanes. The effective range is up to 40 km.
Sentinel short-range radars for Ukraine
Ukraine wants to receive short-range Sentinel radars from the United States for tracking ballistic missiles and other objects.
According to the Politico publication, this request is related to Kyiv's concern about possible further strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure.
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel is a 3-dimensional radar created by the American company Hughes Aircraft Co. (now acquired by Raytheon) for short-range air defence systems (SHORAD) and built based on passive phased array antenna technology.
Capable of detecting small targets (UAVs), cruise missiles, helicopters and aircraft. The effective range is up to 40 km.
The Ukrainian side allegedly declares that this request is crucial to survive the winter. After all, the new radars can provide more coverage for those parts of the country that suffer daily from Russian strikes. Radars can be used to protect factories where Ukraine plans to produce its weapons.
Military aid from the US: what is known
On October 1, the US Congress passed a bill on the temporary budget. It did not include new funding for aid to Ukraine, as they decided to consider such an initiative separately.
After that, US President Joe Biden proposed to Congress that 106 billion dollars be allocated. Most of these funds (60 billion dollars) want to be used to help Ukraine. The package also included aid to Israel.
The United States allocated a new military aid package worth 100 million dollars to Ukraine. It should meet the immediate needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine; in particular, it is about air defence, artillery ammunition and anti-tank weapons.
According to the US Department of Defense, the new package includes additional air defences, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine defend itself.
The package includes:
MANPADS Stinger;
one HIMARS and additional ammunition;
155 mm and 105 mm calibre artillery shells;
tube-launched missiles with optical tracking and wire guidance (TOW);
Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;
more than 3 million cartridges for small arms;
explosive munitions for clearing obstacles;
equipment for cold weather;
spare parts, maintenance and other auxiliary equipment.
The Pentagon adds that this is the 51st transfer of equipment under the Biden administration, which will be provided to Ukraine from the reserves of the Ministry of Defense starting in August 2021.
