US Diverts Allied Foreign Missile Deliveries to Ukraine

By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow

The decision to divert missile deliveries originally intended for foreign buyers to Ukraine marks a significant move by the U.S., one that prioritizes immediate defense needs in Ukraine but might not be well-received by some international customers. This action, announced by the Biden administration, involves temporarily halting deliveries of Patriot and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) interceptors to countries other than Ukraine and Taiwan.

Patriot interceptors, limited in their compatibility to the Patriot system for now, and the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), which is integral to NASAMS and many Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreements, are at the center of this decision. The AMRAAM is a key component for Western air defense, being the most widely used beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. Its diversion to Ukraine underscores the urgency of countering Russian aggression.

The White House’s directive aims to prioritize hundreds of missiles for Ukraine, responding to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. John Kirby, a National Security Council spokesman, clarified that while other nations will experience delays, the reallocation is temporary, extending through Fiscal Year 2025. Deliveries to Ukraine are expected to commence within weeks, aligning with the arrival of U.S.-made F-16s capable of carrying AMRAAMs.

In a recent press briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder addressed the U.S. government’s decision to redirect AMRAAM and Patriot missiles, originally allocated for foreign military sales (FMS), to Ukraine. This move highlights the U.S. commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts, prioritizing their immediate defense needs over pre-existing contracts with other foreign customers.

Maj. Gen. Ryder clarified the Pentagon’s role in this strategic realignment, emphasizing close collaboration with industry partners to manage the necessary contractual adjustments. The “resequencing of planned deliveries,” as Ryder termed it, involves a detailed reassessment and reorganization of missile distribution schedules to ensure that both Ukraine’s urgent requirements and the obligations to FMS clients are met efficiently.

Former Commanding General Army Futures Command, Ret. Gen. John Murray