WASHINGTON, August 27. /TASS/. The Pentagon has signed a $182 million contract with arms manufacturer Raytheon for the purchase of NASAMS short-and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukraine. The US Defense Department announced this on Friday.

"Raytheon Co., Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was awarded a $182,295,333 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 23, 2024," the statement says.

It is noted that the purchase will be paid from the funds allocated as part of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

Earlier this week, the United States announced allocation of almost $3 billion in military aid to Kiev. The new package, in particular, includes six NASAMS systems.

As the Washington administration noted, weapons and equipment within the next tranche of military assistance will be provided as part of USAI. This implies the conclusion by the Pentagon of relevant contracts with manufacturers instead of providing this or that equipment and means directly from American stocks.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request from the leaders of the Donbass republics for help. After that, the US, the EU, the UK, as well as a number of other states imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia and beefed up arms supplies to the Ukrainian authorities.