The US State Department has approved a possible sale of 500 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles to Ukraine, in a deal estimated at $2.1 billion.

Axar.az reports, citing the US Department of State, that the proposed Foreign Military Sale also includes spare parts, logistics and programme support.

The purchase will be funded entirely by Ukraine’s partners and allies, with no US funds involved. Financing will come from contributions by Canada, Germany and Norway through the JUMPSTART programme, as well as national funds financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan.

According to the State Department, the sale is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s integrated air and missile defence capabilities and sustain the operation of its existing Patriot systems against ongoing aerial threats.

The principal contractor will be the US defence company, Lockheed Martin.