A defense official told CNN that the type of missile sent was the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM).
The HARMs, produced by Raytheon, have a range of more than 30 miles, according to the US Air Force, making them one of the longest-range weapons the US has offered to Ukraine. The missiles can be used to target Russian anti-aircraft radars, such as the S-400, which have made it very difficult for the Ukrainian Air Force to operate in large areas of Ukrainian airspace. The missiles can also target Russian anti-battery radars, which Russia uses to target Ukrainian artillery.
Kahl said the missiles had been sent “recently [Presidential Drawdown Authority] packages,” but the five most recent packages, dating back to July 1, make no mention of HARM.
“In the immediate future, we have done a lot of things to make Ukraine’s existing air force stay in the air and be more capable,” Kahl said.
He pointed to spare parts for Mig-29s that the US helped send to Ukraine to keep the Soviet-era fighter jets flying. Kahl then addressed the missiles, saying they “could affect Russian radars and other things.”
The Ukrainians have not publicly acknowledged receiving or using HARM.
In recent days, open source reports have shown the remains of what appears to be the wing of a HARM missile that targeted a Russian position in Ukraine.
Kahl announced the missiles at a briefing on the Pentagon’s latest $1 billion arms package for Ukraine, the largest US weapons package to date.
The package focused on supplying ammunition for some of the key weapons systems the US has sent to Ukraine. This includes the High Mobility Artillery Missile System (HIMARS), which the Ukrainian military has effectively used to target Russian command posts, ammunition depots and more, as well as the M777 howitzers that have been a critical part of the battle in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Russia, Kahl said, has so far suffered about 70,000-80,000 war casualties in the conflict, including those killed and wounded in action.
“That number might be a little lower, a little higher, but I think it’s kind of in the ballpark,” he said. He also added that Russia has lost between 3,000-4,000 armored vehicles.
With this latest package, the US has pledged to send Ukraine a total of $9.1 billion in security aid since Russia’s invasion began in late February.
CNN’s Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.