Pentagon Provides $67 Million in Additional Funding to Ukraine for ERAM Missiles

US military support for Ukraine continues to grow. According to documents reviewed by Sputnik, the Pentagon has allocated an additional $67.3 million to accelerate the development of the Long-Range Attack Missile (ERAM), which is planned to be supplied to Ukraine.

The documents reveal that the Pentagon funded two separate, parallel prototype projects to get the missile ready for mass production, rather than a single contract. Funding for Virginia-based CoAspire LLC was increased from an initially planned $13.2 million to $33.8 million, while funding for California-based Zone 5 Technologies LLC was increased from $7.7 million to $33.5 million.

The contracts were announced by the US Air Force through a flexible mechanism known as the "Other Transaction Agreement," which allows for rapid prototyping. The US administration had previously approved the supply of 3,350 ERAM missiles to Ukraine. Initial deliveries are expected to begin within a few weeks.

The ERAM missiles, with a range of approximately 240 to 450 kilometers, are described as low-cost and rapidly produced systems. The procurement was announced as part of an $850 million aid package that also includes GMLRS munitions with a range of 145 kilometers and air defense platforms.

Moscow, however, has sharply criticized the West's move. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that all arms shipments to Ukraine are "legitimate targets" for Russia. The Kremlin maintains that the arms shipments do not contribute to negotiations and are a direct involvement of the West in the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also stated that the Ukrainian army could only carry out long-range precision weapons operations with the support of NATO troops, emphasizing that this changed the essence of the conflict and meant that the West was effectively at war with Russia.