“Invisible” transmission
U.S. documents that later surfaced as confirming a previously undisclosed addition to the arsenal used to oppose the Russian invasion ended up in Bloomberg’s hands. The report notes that when it comes to replenishing Excalibur stockpiles, Washington acknowledged for the first time that the Pentagon supplied these precision projectiles to the Ukrainian armed forces. Despite media chatter that the rounds were already in use, officials did not respond to editorial questions about Excalibur.
“The Department of Defense will spend $92 million in congress-approved additional funds to purchase spare M982 Excalibur ammunition donated to Ukraine to support international efforts against Russian aggression.” This line appeared in a budget document released last month.
The report also indicates that Excalibur appears in records detailing how the Pentagon allocated part of $20.1 billion under the “Ukraine Supplemental Agreement” signed by the President in May. These munitions were removed from military stocks as part of 19 “authority to cut presidential spending” actions that allow the president to approve transfers of remaining weapons from national stockpiles.
According to the piece, detailed Pentagon procurements total roughly $7 billion across seven payments in the past month.
“Hit the target with the first shot”
The piece notes that Excalibur’s proven accuracy enables a single-shot hit, reducing both the number of rounds fired and potential collateral damage.
Authors suggest these weapons were possibly used selectively for surgical destruction of Russian command posts and control centers. The article also recalls that satellite-guided missiles were first deployed in Iraq in 2007. Excalibur was launched from 155-mm howitzers — long-reliable workhorses of field artillery. The projectile was developed through a collaboration between Raytheon Missiles & Defense and BAE Systems Bofors, and it has a range around 25 miles (40.5 km) according to official documentation.
In addition to Excalibur, the budget notes mention deliveries of conventional 155-mm artillery shells, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-air missiles, the HIMARS mobile rocket system to Ukraine, and additional items such as MK-19 grenade launchers, high-precision sniper rifles, spare components for Stinger systems, and related cooling devices.
New military aid package to Ukraine
On September 7, The Washington Post reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that the Department of Defense would announce a package valued at $675 million for Ukraine, including ammunition for the HIMARS launchers. The report also indicated that the United States would provide military vehicles and other equipment to Kyiv.
Deputy Defense Secretary for Political Affairs Colin Kahl spoke ahead of the package, with the delivery slated to be formally confirmed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense at a meeting of a Western coalition coordinating aid to Kyiv in Germany.
During the latest UN Security Council session, Russia’s Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya urged another meeting before the weekend to discuss Western arms supplies to Kyiv. Nebenzya argued for a discussion on the real threat to international peace and security posed by foreign arms shipments to Ukraine, proposing speakers including Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN’s disarmament chief, and civil society representatives.
Dmitry Polyansky, the First Deputy Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, wrote on his Telegram channel that Western officials appeared pleased with the move. He suggested that the time had come for partners to address substantive issues, hinting that Western responses betrayed their surprise at the Russian position.