The administration of US President Joe Biden is considering the possibility of sending American-made Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports citing numerous sources familiar with the discussions.

One of Bloomberg’s interlocutors says that the final decision on this matter has not yet been made, all sources cited by Reuters on condition of anonymity claim that it is still unclear when the combat vehicles may arrive in Ukraine.

A White House spokesman, who spoke to U.S. reporters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said the U.S. government is constantly discussing Kyiv’s defense needs with the Ukrainian government, but had nothing new to announce at this time. /

“[Vehiculele de luptă] Bradley will provide [forțelor ucrainene] a significant increase in ground combat capabilities because it’s essentially a light tank,” says Mark Kankian, a former White House defense budget analyst who is now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank.

It says that unlike the M113 armored personnel carriers that the US has already sent to the Ukrainians, the Bradley BMP, a tracked platform named after the famous General Omar Bradley, has a powerful 25 mm gun and is equipped with TOW anti-tank missiles that can engage targets up to 3,750 meters, although most have a maximum range of 3,000 meters.

Kanchian also says it could be months before Ukraine can use the Bradleys on the battlefield, as their crews and engineering teams will need to be trained to maintain them.

The USA has already paid for the tanks that will be sent to Ukraine

As part of the military aid package announced by the Pentagon in early November, the White House approved funds to upgrade several Soviet T-72 tanks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The tanks will come from the Czech Republic, the USA is paying for the repair of 45 of them, and the Netherlands has provided funds for the repair of another 45 tanks.

“The USAI package underscores the continued commitment of the United States to support Ukraine by meeting its most urgent requirements … while strengthening the ability of the Ukrainian armed forces to defend its sovereignty over the long term,” the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of state said at the time. Sabrina Singh at a press conference.

Singh said the tanks should arrive in Ukraine by the end of December, but it is unclear if that has happened.

Joe Biden announced the latest package of military aid to Ukraine during the historic visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi to Washington on December 22, which included the Patriot air defense system.

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