BAE Systems unveils UK's first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft

The US State Department has approved a proposed military arms sale to Ukraine worth up to $2.7 billion, according to a notification to Congress on the evening of Friday, September 18. The package covers upgrades to air defense systems, weapons and equipment, as well as related equipment and services, including S-300 replica missiles, GAM-67 missiles, longer-range laser-guided rockets, launcher modification kits and mobile firing systems, and counter-drone radars. However, the proposal still requires congressional review, and no final agreement has been reached. If the sale is completed, Ukraine will use funding from European countries together with the US Foreign Military Financing budget, which was allocated during the administration of former US President Joe Biden. The State Department said US funding for this sale will be counted as a contribution to the Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund under a one-to-one reimbursement agreement; the fund was established under a minerals agreement signed by the United States and Ukraine last year. The proposed arms sale comes as the administration of President Donald Trump seeks to shift more of the cost of supporting Ukraine onto European countries. Earlier in September, Trump said he would ask European countries to reimburse the United States for military aid and ammunition it had previously delivered to Ukraine. It also follows Trump's signing of legislation on Friday aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Trump had pledged to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine after taking office early last year, but fighting continues even after the first 20 months of his presidency.