U.S.-Ukraine military cooperation

What a double standard... the west alleges that Russia is interfering in the conflict in the Ukraine and imposes sanctions against Russia because of that.

Here the US is clearly openly training and likely equipping one side in the conflict... WTF... why is the US allowed to interfere and Russia is not?

Fucking two faced Americans...

US Training for Ukrainian Military Underway

A former top US Pentagon official said at an Atlantic Council conference that US training for the Ukrainian military is underway and being directed from NATO and the US Embassy in Kiev.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US training for the Ukrainian military is underway and being directed from NATO and the US Embassy in Kiev, former top US Pentagon official Jan Lodal said at an Atlantic Council conference.

“There is quite a bit of American effort underway, some of it from NATO and some of it from the embassy in Ukraine,” Lodal said Monday of US military training being given to Ukrainian officers. For US specialists to provide the additional training being considered, Lodal commented, “Americans would have to be in Ukraine to do this additional training.”

Lodal, who served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and was also a senior staff member of the National Security Council, is part of a team of former US officials who drafted a report calling on the US government to provide lethal and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.

Former US ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer verified Lodal’s statements at the Atlantic Council saying that US personnel are already “training four battalions of Ukrainian National Guard.” Pifer, who is also an author of the report, stated that the training is taking place in Ukraine’s far west, near the border with Poland “well away from the conflict zone.”

Former Pentagon official, Lodal further commented that the United States already has “an infrastructure there,” which should be able to handle the “additional” and “stepped up” military training, which is being recommended in the report released by the former US officials. According to the experts’ report, the training would mostly deal with operating new defensive weapons system and improving command and control.

Asked whether additional US training would take place in Ukraine or if officers would be brought to the United States, Lodal acknowledged he was uncertain “whether it would be possible to bring some Ukrainian officers or officials to the United States.”

Since last year, the United States has provided Ukraine with radar systems and has put military advisors and special forces on the ground in Ukraine, according to statement this past summer by US European Command.

The White House announced Monday it is still assessing its policies regarding providing lethal and other military assistance to the government in Ukraine.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150203/1017684601.html#ixzz3QgBRL2VI

US Reportedly Considering Supplies of Javelin Antitank Missiles to Ukraine

http://sputniknews.com/military/20150203/1017695827.html

F-15E wrote:US Reportedly Considering Supplies of Javelin Antitank Missiles to Ukraine

http://sputniknews.com/military/20150203/1017695827.html

Short range, long deployment time.....what a useless replacement for what they already have.

Hehehehe... play some CIA games and offer $500K to any Ukrainian soldier who surrenders with an intact Javelin... Double the offer for any rebel with the same...

US to Deploy Six National Guard Companies to Ukraine This Week

TR1 wrote:

F-15E wrote:US Reportedly Considering Supplies of Javelin Antitank Missiles to Ukraine

http://sputniknews.com/military/20150203/1017695827.html

Short range, long deployment time.....what a useless replacement for what they already have.

Ukrainians seem to have capable ATGMs and just look at the terrain. Javelin would be useless. TOW2 would be something better for them.

Well I don't think that if the US sends in troops... even just for training, that Russia should do the same, but I think that Russia should start supplying the rebels with explosives and training... and some long range sniper rifles might be useful too.

The huge irony is that the Ukraine probably has plenty of weapons and ammo and they will suffer most if both sides get weapon supplies from an outside power...

Maybe Russia should cultivate some terrorist activity in the west like the Ukrainians were threatening to do in Russia... it is not getting much credit for keeping its nose out. Take precautions to ensure only nazis are killed... it might shorten the war and bring the remaining nazis to the table with a genuine interest in ending the conflict. As it is the nazis will likely only retain power while it is marshal law so really they wont have many other reasons for a peaceful settlement.

Perhaps a unilaterally imposed no fly zone over most of the Ukraine?

Verkhovna Rada Approves Bill to Let Foreign Troops in Ukraine

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150317/1019620425.html#ixzz3UgB7m300

US Military to Join Ukraine National Guard's Drills in April in Lviv

Ukraine's "National Guard" will conduct drills with the participation of US specialists, Petro Poroshenko's press service said.

KIEV (Sputnik) – Specialists from the United States will participate in military exercises in Ukraine’s western Lviv Region in April, the Ukrainian president’s press secretary said Thursday.

In early March, the US government announced that it had deployed 300 military personnel to Ukraine for a joint training mission at a peacekeeping center near Lviv. Later, the US Army Europe Commander said the training had been delayed to give more time for the reconciliation process between Kiev and eastern Ukraine's independence militias.

The US Army Europe Commander said the training had been delayed to give more time for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

“National Guard exercises with the participation of American specialists will be held in April at the Yavoriv Range,” Svyatoslav Tsegolko said on his Twitter account citing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

On March 17, the Ukrainian parliament approved a bill allowing foreign troops to participate in a number of joint military exercises with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2015.

Ukraine is planning to hold three joint exercises with US troops — Fearless Guardian 2015, Sea Breeze 2015 and Saber Guardian/Rapid Trident 2015 later this year. Kiev also plans two joint drills with Poland.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Poland have expressed their intention to send military advisers to Ukraine to train its troops.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20150326/1020033673.html#ixzz3VUsWTQi0

Ukroboronprom to shift to NATO arms production standards by 2019
20:11 April 8, 2015 Interfax

State Concern Ukroboronprom will begin the transition to NATO standards in the production of armaments and military hardware in 2015. The process will be complete in late 2018, the concern press service said.

The reform will be based on a roadmap of the defense industry standardization in 2015-2018 elaborated by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and NATO.

The roadmap includes training of standardization specialists of Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff with support from the Ukraine-NATO Trust Fund.

"In addition, the document presents a tool of assistance to the introduction of modern mechanisms controlling the life cycle of defense products and the NATO system of product compliance verification," the concern said.

The roadmap of the defense industry standardization in 2015-2018 was drawn up after a seminar dedicated to Ukraine-NATO cooperation in standardization policy held in Kiev in late March and early April. The seminar was attended by representatives of Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic.

- http://rbth.com/news/2015/04/08/ukroboronprom_to_shift_to_nato_arms_production_standards_by_2019_45075.html)

The roadmap also describes how the Ukraine should take a small fine cat gut type line material like fishing line and tie it around the end of their knobs, around their testicles and then tie it to the end of a 3m long pole with its base end shoved firmly up their ass.

When Washington makes a statement, just pull out the pole and flick it... and the testicles disappear into different corners of the room. After the first time your eyes wont water so much, but it is always a special moment when it is over and the 3 metre pole goes back up your ass.

George1 wrote:Ukroboronprom to shift to NATO arms production standards by 2019
20:11 April 8, 2015 Interfax

State Concern Ukroboronprom will begin the transition to NATO standards in the production of armaments and military hardware in 2015. The process will be complete in late 2018, the concern press service said.

The reform will be based on a roadmap of the defense industry standardization in 2015-2018 elaborated by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and NATO.

The roadmap includes training of standardization specialists of Ukroboronprom, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff with support from the Ukraine-NATO Trust Fund.

"In addition, the document presents a tool of assistance to the introduction of modern mechanisms controlling the life cycle of defense products and the NATO system of product compliance verification," the concern said.

The roadmap of the defense industry standardization in 2015-2018 was drawn up after a seminar dedicated to Ukraine-NATO cooperation in standardization policy held in Kiev in late March and early April. The seminar was attended by representatives of Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic.

- http://rbth.com/news/2015/04/08/ukroboronprom_to_shift_to_nato_arms_production_standards_by_2019_45075.html)

In other words, a plan to convert and modernize ~15% of their defense industry to NATO standards, and shut down & sell-off the rest.

"NATO system of product compliance verification" - that's already code-speak for saying that a hell of a lot of production is going to get the cut.

Some 300 US airborne troops arrive in Ukraine’s Lviv

Kremlin says US military instructors’ presence in Ukraine destabilizes situation

KIEV, April 17. /TASS/. Around 300 US airborne troops arrived in western Ukraine’s Lviv on Friday to train Ukrainian servicemen to conduct combat actions, Kiev’s military operation spokesman, Andrey Lysenko, has said.

"Today, around 300 paratroopers of the 173rd brigade of the US Army arrived in Lviv," he said. The US troops will train the Ukrainian forces in how to establish defenses and actions as part of units.

US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt earlier on Friday confirmed that the 173rd Airborne troops have arrived in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov earlier wrote on Facebook that 290 US airborne troops are to land on April 20 in western Ukraine’s Lviv region at the Yavorov training range. The 173rd brigade and armed units of Ukraine’s national guard will hold joint training exercises under the agreement with the US State Department, Avakov said.

The agreement on the training mission was reached by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and US Vice President Joe Biden, Avakov said. Some 900 members of Ukraine’s national guard will participate in the exercises.

There will be three rounds of training of 300 Ukraine’s national guard troops, and each of the period will last for 8 weeks, he said. Then the joint exercises will take place that will involve the national guard units, battalions Azov, Kulchitsky, Yaguar, Omega and other units from Kiev, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnitsa.

Ukraine's border service confirms foreign military equipment crossing country's border

"Радар от американского беспилотника ТАLS стоимостью $215 тыс украли с Яворовского полигона во Львовской области двое местных жителей, сообщает LifeNews. Злоумышленники собирались сдать дорогостоящую технику на металлолом. Правоохранителям удалось задержать преступников, которыми оказались двое местных жителей, радар вернули на полигон. По словам сотрудников правоохранительных органов, стоимость радара оценивается в $215 тыс. В связи с инцидентом возбуждено уголовное дело по статье «Кража». Злоумышленникам грозит лишение свободы от семи до двенадцати лет с конфискацией имущества. В настоящее время на Яворовском полигоне проходит шестимесячный курс обучения украинских военных под руководством инструкторов из США. Во второй половине апреля 2015 года в Международный центр миротворчества и безопасности прибыло формирование американских сухопутных войск, созданное из подразделений 173-й воздушно-десантной бригады общей численностью более 300 военнослужащих. Необходимую технику американцы привезли с собой."

Long story short seems that some Ukraine citizens stole certain electronic equipment from Ukraine military base worth 215.000USD that was hosting American instructors too. Apparently they have been already arrested. Partisans ?

"Ukrainian state-run defense company Ukroboronprom said on Monday, September 21, 2015, it had agreed a joint venture with U.S. defense group Textron Inc to upgrade military vehicles for Ukraine's army. Under the deal, Textron Inc will upgrade Ukraine's Humvee vehicles with high-protection armor, Ukroboronprom said in a statement.

While the U.S. government has agreed to give Ukraine equipment such as radar, and training, this is the first sale of military hardware by a U.S. company, industry sources said. The company gave no financial details of the deal. The United States gave Ukraine 30 Humvees earlier this year. In total, the US plans to send 200 regular Humvees, radios, counter-mortar radars and other non-lethal equipment worth $75 million. In March 2015, The US House of Representatives voted 348-48 in favour of putting pressure on Obama to ship “lethal defensive weapon systems” to help Kiev forces defend against Russian “aggression”. Ukraine has been pushing Western nations to supply it with weapons but so far countries like France and the United States say they will only supply non-lethal equipment.The venture will be a boost for Ukroboronprom which was forced to cut exports to Russia, a major customer, following the outbreak of conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the east."



Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/us_company_textron_will_upgraded_humvee_tactical_vehicle_for_ukrainian_army_12409152.html

"U.S. President Barack Obama authorized a deal to send $20 million of sophisticated radar equipment to Ukraine, Business Insider reported Wednesday. The Pentagon had been discussing the radar for months, but it wasn't until a high-profile meeting between Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Obama decided to finalize the deal. U.S. President Barack Obama authorized a deal to send $20 million of sophisticated radar equipment to Ukraine, Business Insider reported Wednesday. The Pentagon had been discussing the radar for months, but it wasn't until a high-profile meeting between Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Obama decided to finalize the deal.

The equipment to be provided by the U.S. will be AN/TPQ-36 radar systems that can target the point of origin of missiles from between 18-24 kilometers (11-15 miles) away. The equipment is so precise that it can originate the location of a missile or artillery weapon after a single shot.Nearly 75 percent of the fatalities experienced on the Ukrainian side, according Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, have been because of artillery or missile attacks, and the new radar equipment could be a game changer for the Ukrainian military. The Ukrainian military was attacked by pro-Russian separatists in the Donbass region Wednesday, the Kyiv Post reported. No fatalities have been reported from Wednesday's attack.



The U.S. decision to send the radar could have very significant consequences for the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine, some experts said. "Washington's willingness to move forward with radars sends a clear signal that the U.S. may consider sending lethal weapons should the Minsk II process fail," said Adrian Karatnycky, an analyst for the Atlantic Council, a defense and security think tank. "In the long term, the West must help Ukraine's arms industry modernize, which can be modeled on the successful efforts undertaken in Poland and other Central European states," Karatnycky said."

How many is 20mil of these radars idk, some old price from late 90s says one costs 1,5million USD, but that probably different by now.

Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/us_to_send_20$_million_of_sophisticated_radar_an/tpq-36_to_ukraine_4011020152.html

sepheronx wrote:Not very impressive. This isnt first systems sent to Ukraine, and proved quite useless for them. But Uncle Sham is sending them anyway to show support.

Good waste of money though

AN/TPQ-49 yeah, they lost one due to artillery fire FIRST time they tried to use them, one was badly damaged in transport, one was captured by rebels in Debaltsevo somewhere in early 2015. They were due to get 20 of them in total, however i am not sure how far did it go.



Captured one

Ukraine, US Plan to Launch Jointly-Developed Space Rocket in Coming Months

http://sputniknews.com/science/20160705/1042435813/ukraine-us-rocket-launch.html

Although not defence related but it could be if they use them to launch military satelites which i think may just happen. Looks Like the US could be getting a replacement for its Russian sourced rocket engines