Ukraine weapons: What arms are the US, UK and other nations supplying?

Tom Edgington
BBC News
Getty Images ATACMS missile being fired from launcherGetty Images

Concerns are rising that the US may no longer come to Europe's defence, which could force European countries - including the UK - to increase their military spending.

Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, western nations have allocated more than $250bn (£205bn) of military, humanitarian and other financial aid to Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump has said he wants Ukraine to guarantee the supply of more rare earth metals in exchange for further support.

Who has supplied the most military aid?

The US has been the biggest source of military aid to Ukraine, including weapons, equipment and financial support.

Between the start of 2022 and the end of 2024, it gave $69bn (£54.6bn) in military aid, according to German think tank the Kiel Institute.

Germany has given $13.6bn (£10.7bn), the UK $10.8bn (£8.5bn), Denmark $8.1bn (£6.4bn), and the Netherlands $6.3bn (£4.9bn).

If all types of aid are included - military, humanitarian and other financial aid - data shows the US has spent about $120bn. That is 43% of total support to Ukraine since the start of 2022.

European Union (EU) countries sent about 18.3% thought the bloc's institutions.

Some EU members, like Germany, have made additional contributions - as shown in the chart below.

A pie chart showing total support to Ukraine (January 2022 - December 2024). The US contributed by far the most, at 42.7%, followed by the EU at 18.3%

Given the current size of the US contribution, other countries would need to significantly increase support to make up any shortfall.

What about wider defence spending?

Last year, all European Nato members pledged to spend 2% of GDP on defence. Provisional figures, show the UK spent 2.33% (£64.6bn) in 2024, ranking it ninth out of all Nato members on this measure.

The Labour government has committed to increase this amount to 2.5%, although it hasn't set out when it expects to achieve this.

Had the UK spent 2.5% of GDP on defence last year it would have cost an additional £4.6bn according to the House of Commons Library (although the Institute for Fiscal Studies puts the figure at £6bn).

Chart showing which Nato members did and did not meet the 2% spending target in 2014 and 2024. In 2014 only the US and UK spent more than 2%. In 2024, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, France, Germany, and Netherland also met or exceeded the target, while Spain and Italy did not. NB the 2024 figures are estimates.

What weapons have Western countries given Ukraine?

Missiles and artillery

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have used artillery and guided missiles extensively, to prevent enemy forces advancing and to attack supply depots and command centres.

Ukraine has been using US-made ATACMS missiles which have a range of about 190 miles (300km).

In November, former President Biden lifted the ban, allowing ATACMS to be fired into Russian territory.

Infographic showing ranges of Western-supplied and Russian artillery and missile systems

The UK and France have supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow or Scalp missiles, which have a maximum range of around 155 miles (250km), and which Ukraine has reportedly fired into Russian territory.

Infographic on the Storm Shadow missile

Ukraine's allies have also sent it more than 80 multiple-launch rocket systems, according to the Kiel Institute.

These include the Himars system from the US and the M270 missile system from the UK.

The Kiel Institute says they have also sent more than 500 field guns, including the M777 howitzer from the US.

However, Russia has an advantage on the battlefield because its supply of artillery shells has been much greater than Ukraine's, according to the UK-based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Graphic showing the characteristics of the M777 artillery system. The M777 howitzer has greater range and better accuracy than Russian equivalents when using GPS-guided munitions.

Fighter jets

At the end of July last year, Ukraine's President Zelensky said its air force had taken delivery of a batch of F-16 fighter jets from the West. He said many more were needed.

Nato countries, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, have pledged to give Ukraine 65 or more of the US-made planes, which they had been planning to retire from their air forces.

In August 2023, the US gave permission for F-16s to be sent to Ukraine. Since then, Western nations have been training Ukrainian pilots to fly them.

Infographic on F-16 Fighting Falcon

Phillips O'Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrews University says: "Ukraine will be using the F-16s mostly for defence against air attacks."

The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says they could eventually be given extra roles, such as attacking Russian air defence systems, command centres and supply depots, and engaging Russian aircraft in Ukrainian airspace.

Air defence systems

To counter Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's cities and infrastructure, Western nations have sent it several types of air defence system.

These range from the UK's short-range anti-aircraft weapon, Starstreak, to the Patriot missile system.

Graphic showing details of the Starstreak system. Starstreak missiles can be shoulder-launched or vehicle-mounted. They are optimised for flying targets and cannot be stopped by many countermeasures.

Patriots are expensive to operate - one missile costs about $3m.

The US and Norway have also provided the Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) for air defence, and Germany has offered the Iris-T.

Munitions

In July 2023, the US said it had supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine to help dislodge Russian troops from defensive positions.

These weapons, delivered mostly in artillery shells, scatter multiple bomblets, and are banned by more than 100 countries because of the risk they pose to civilians.

Tanks

In early 2023, Western nations agreed to send tanks to Ukraine. It was hoped they would enable its forces to breach Russian defensive lines in a counter-offensive.

The UK provided 14 Challenger 2s.

Graphic showing characteristics of the British-made Challenger 2 tank. The Challenger 2 is heavier and better armoured than Russian or Soviet-made tanks.

European nations have sent more than 200 German-made Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, according to figures from the Kiel Institute.

Graphic showing characteristics of the German-made Leopard 2 tank. The Leopard 2 is heavier and better armoured than Russian or Soviet-made tanks and uses Nato-standard ammunition.

The US sent 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks, which are thought to be the most advanced in the world.

Graphic showing details of the US M1 Abrams tank. Updated 24 Jan

Anti-tank weapons

Western countries first responded to Russia's invasion in February 2022 by supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons to counter the enemy's armoured brigades.

The US and UK supplied thousands of Javelin and Nlaw anti-tank missiles. These were considered crucial in stopping the advance of Russian forces on Kyiv.

Graphic showing details of the Nlaw anti-tank weapon. It requires little training to use and is effective against moving targets at close range and distance.

Drones

Drones have been used extensively throughout the war, for surveillance, targeting, launching missiles and as "kamikaze" weapons.

Turkey supplied missile-firing Bayraktar TB2 drones at the start of the conflict, the US has provided "Switchblade" kamikaze drones, and several countries have sent commercial surveillance drones, such as the Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3.

Graphic showing DJI Mavic 3 drone and its specifications

In February 2024, the UK government said it would join a coalition of countries supplying Ukraine with thousands of "first person view" drones, for observation and target spotting.