France Sends AMX-10 RC, President Biden Considers Delivery of Bradley Combat Vehicles

M2A3 Bradley fighter vehicle. (Wikimedia Commons/Spc. Michael Germundson)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden said Wednesday a delivery of Bradley Combat Vehicles to Ukraine was being considered, to help the country fight off a Russian invasion.

"Yes," Biden said when asked if those options were on the table, he said, launching Reuters, January 5.

Armored vehicles with Bradley guns have been used as a staple by the US Army, to carry troops around the battlefield since the mid-1980s.

The Army has thousands of Bradleys, which can give Ukraine more firepower on the battlefield. However, President Biden's move does not include sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, which Ukraine has requested.

It's unclear how many Bradleys will be sent to Ukraine, but the United States is preparing another arms relief package to be announced in the coming days.

Late last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the US Congress that the tens of billions of dollars that had been approved to help fight a Russian invasion was not charity, but an investment in global security.

So far, the United States has sent about $21.3 billion in security aid to Kyiv, during Europe's biggest conflict since 1945, which has killed tens of thousands of people.

Washington has also sent various types of weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), until recently the United States promised to send Patriot missile system to repel Russian missile and drone attacks.

As previously reported, French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelensky his government would send an AMX-10 RC light armored fighting vehicle to assist in the fight against Russia, a French official said on Wednesday after a telephone call between them.

"This is the first time Western-made armored vehicles have been delivered to support the Ukrainian army," the official said.

Speaking to reporters, the official gave no details on the volume or timing of the planned deliveries, but said talks would continue regarding potential deliveries of other types of vehicles.

President Zelensky thanked President Macron for the announcement, saying it showed the need for other parties to provide heavier weapons.