What Weapons Have Western Allies Transferred to Ukraine in 2024?

In 2024, Ukraine received several advanced Western weapon systems from Western allies to bolster its defense against ongoing Russian aggression. Some systems received during 2024 are new to Ukraine’s frontlines, and others are part of a continued support package. 

Allies have also promised new and expanded military aid packages to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, deliveries of weaponry and equipment take time and most of the promised arsenal will come throughout the end of 2024 and well into 2025. 

What new military aid packages have been promised by Western partners?

The U.S

November 1, 2024, the Pentagon announced that their $425-million aid package includes bombs, missiles, artillery shells, and at least 212 Stryker armored vehicles. 

The new aid package includes Stinger missiles; air-to-ground munitions; additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS); ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions; Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers; small arms and ammunition. 

Lithuania

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, Lithuania has provided Ukraine with military aid worth $641 million. This week, Ukraine will receive electricity generators, ammunition, mortar mines, and other crucial aid from Lithuania as part of its latest military aid package in preparation for the winter ahead.

During 2024, Lithuania transferred 155 mm ammunition, armored personnel vehicles, anti-drone systems, anti-tank grenade launchers, remote detonation systems, training and combat aircraft, generators, and more. 

Sweden

The Swedish government has allocated an additional €63 million for military aid to Ukraine they announced on October 28, 2024. This funding will be under the Danish model aimed at purchasing weapons from Ukrainian manufacturers rather than shipments of Western weapons. 

In addition, Sweden has promised a further €43 million for several multilateral initiatives to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

In May 2024, Sweden's €1.3 billion aid package included Saab-made airborne surveillance and control aircraft, known as ASC-890, which can track ships, drones, aircraft, missiles, and the PBV-30 armored vehicle - which has already arrived in Ukraine.

Germany

The German government will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package, including 22 Leopard 1A5 tanks and 3 Cheetah self-propelled anti-aircraft guns Germany announced on September 19, 2024.

Norway

A new aid package from Norway worth €500 million has been promised, of which €350 million will be used for military aid. Almost $118.2 million worth of equipment will be purchased for F-16s, which Ukraine will receive by the end of 2024, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.

Croatia

Croatia announced that they have signed a memorandum with Germany, committing to supply 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as spare parts and ammunition to Ukraine.

Finland

Finland announced a further €118 million as part of their 25th military aid package for Ukraine.

The West continues to pledge further assistance to Ukraine, much needed for the upcoming winter months, though much of the promised military aid won’t arrive this year. However, Ukraine has received some advanced weaponry throughout 2024, including a wide range of military equipment such as advanced missile systems, drones, and artillery. 

Many of the systems have already been seen on Ukraine’s frontlines since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, but some are new. Let’s look at a small selection of Western weapon systems delivered to Ukraine in 2024.

What Western weapons has Ukraine received during 2024?

F-16 Fighter Jets

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine on August 4, 2024. 

The F-16 can target drones and missiles, fight against Russian bombers launching guided aerial bombs, and strike enemy ground targets with long-range missiles. 

Equipped with advanced radars and navigation systems, the F-16 can effectively track and engage targets at long ranges with high precision. The F-16 is expected to significantly bolster defensive positions and Ukraine’s response to aerial threats.

While the U.S. is not sending F-16s directly, they must agree to the transfer. The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway – all NATO members – have committed to providing Ukraine with more than 65 fighter jets in total. While only the first small batch has arrived, more are expected to follow towards the end of 2024, and the remaining in 2025. 

The U.S. provided Ukraine with an upgrade for their F-16s, aimed at improving their capability to counter Russian air defense systems by reprogramming their electronic warfare (EW) system. 

“One F-16 with a reprogrammed pod won’t achieve air dominance alone, but it may give you a pocket of air superiority for a moment to achieve an objective that has strategic importance and impact,” the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron’s director said.

The Patriot Air Defense System

Ukraine has received continued support with systems such as the Patriot missile system to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities. The unprecedented number of simultaneous air threats from Russian forces against Ukraine has highlighted the urgent need for more modern air defense systems. 

Patriot is an acronym for Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target.

The American Patriot missile system is considered one of the scarcest, but best air-defense systems in the U.S. arsenal. It includes a powerful radar and mobile launchers that fire missiles at incoming projectiles. These systems are critical for Ukraine’s defense against ballistic missile threats.

On 3 October 2024, Romanian Ministry spokesman Constantin Spînu confirmed that their Patriot arrived in Ukraine. Germany also confirmed their third delivery of the Patriot system spare parts and interceptor missiles. 

Air defense remains one of the leading topics between Kyiv and NATO. Though several systems have arrived throughout 2024, Zelenskyy said that a promised 6-7 air defense systems are still undelivered to Ukraine. Canada and Norway pledged their National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAM) to be transferred to Ukraine in early 2025.

Hawkeye Howitzer system

An American company secretly delivered a prototype of its new 2-CT Hawkeye Mobile Howitzer System in April 2024. AM General Program Director Mike Evans disclosed the transfer in July but would not elaborate further. This system is thought to be the world’s lightest Howitzer system. Hawkeye is an AM General Humvee 2-CT optimized as a chassis for an M20 artillery gun firing at a maximum of 8 rounds per minute. 

In September, an image circled Telegram showing the Ukrainian military using this system. The Hawkeye is yet to be in mass production and is only an experimental weapon that has reportedly been in production since 2016. 

Armored Vehicles

Swedish PBV 30

November 3, 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the delivery of the Swedish PBV 30 (Pansarbandvagn 302) tracked armored personnel carriers (APC). 

The PBV-30 has much-needed versatility and can move on difficult off-road, soft, and loose soils, particularly on swamps and sands, and overcome water obstacles.

It was developed by Hägglund & Söner in the early 1960s, it was in service with the Swedish army until 2014 and used in combat operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

The PBV 30 can travel at around 60km per hour and can withstand hits from 20mm artillery shells thanks to its steel body and dual-layer side armor plates.

Upgraded Leopard 1A5V main battle tank

In September 2024, Ukraine’s 5th Separate Armored Brigade showcased their upgraded Leopard 1A5V main battle tank for the first time.

German-Danish-Dutch sent Ukraine almost 200 Leopard 1s since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began making up most of the Western tanks in Ukraine’s arsenal. The Leopard 1s reach a top speed of 70km per hour and are incredibly accurate, hitting precise targets up to 4km away with its 105mm L7 main armament. However, they also proved vulnerable to Russian FPV (first-person view) attack drones on the battlefield. 

The latest upgrade has additional armor and protective screens to counter Russian anti-tank-guided weapons and their FPV drones. Explosive reactive armor (ERA) covers the front, the turret, and around 75% of the side. The latest Leopard 1A5V is able to pierce the armor of Russia’s T-72, T-80, and T-90 tanks.

M113 APC

Lithuania has delivered a batch of M113 APCs intended to enhance Ukraine’s demining capabilities as part of the Coalition for Demining led by Iceland. 

Since 2022, Ukraine has been supplied with hundreds of M113 variants from various countries with a variety of modifications. The U.S. alone has provided Ukraine with more than 900 M113s.

Ukraine has received the APC variants plus ambulance and medical versions. During the Battle of Bakhmut and Soledar, the M113, which can move at speeds of 65km per hour, was seen to be highly effective in evacuating Ukrainian troops under continuous shelling from Russian forces.

M577 command post carriers

In April 2024 Lithuania delivered M577 command post carriers, designed to provide radio communication and control. The M577 is part of the M113 family, but unlike the M113 designed for troop mobility, the M577 focuses on communication and control operations – equipped with communication equipment, workstations, and map boards.

Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicle

Germany’s weapons manufacturer Rheinmetal has delivered more than 200 combat vehicles and a large proportion of these are the Marder 1A3. Ukraine has received the Marder in several different deliveries since the full-scale invasion but Germany delivered a further 20 this year as part of their remaining stockpile. 

Over the years, the Marder has been modernised many times. The variant delivered to Ukraine is equipped with additional laser rangefinders for efficient and precise target engagement and better armor. 

Despite its age, it remains highly efficient due to its upgrades. It can carry a crew of 3 and 10 soldiers reaching speeds of 75km per hour. It’s armed with a 20mm automatic cannon and an MG3 7.62mm machine gun. This variant is argued to be one of Ukraine’s best-protected IVFs. 

The Marder is currently working in the ongoing Ukrainian incursion in Russia’s Kursk region. They are valued highly by Ukrainian forces as they can withstand far more than the post-Soviet BMPs. 

ATF Dingo 2 armored vehicles

Along with the Marder, Germany also delivered 50 ATF Dingo 2 armored vehicles as part of their remaining stockpile delivery. The Dingo 2 was previously delivered to Ukraine in 2022, and is not new to the frontlines.

The Dingo 2 can reach top speeds of 90km per hour with a range of 1000km. There are 16 different variants of the Dingo 2 including reconnaissance, patrol, command and staff vehicle, radiation chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle, and sanitary vehicle. The APC version carries a crew of two people, including the driver and commander, and up to 6 people military men. 

A vast variety of further military aid has been delivered to Ukraine, such as missiles for their long-range systems, artillery shells, grenade launchers, remote detonation systems, drones, and ambulances. 

In February 2024, the Czech Republic initiated a campaign to buy 800,000 artillery shells for munitions-starved Ukraine. Twenty countries pledged to participate in the initiative, and the first batch arrived in June 2024. 

The hospitals of the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard of Ukraine received ambulances as part of the NATO assistance package. These ambulances can take three seriously injured patients while simultaneously transporting four more lying-down and eight sitting patients under medical supervision.

Ukraine expects to receive further assistance from Western allies throughout the last few months of 2024. 2025 will see another year of new and continuous deliveries of modernized Western weapons to fight Russia’s war in Ukraine.