U.S. Airmen at Dover Air Force Base load an Atlas Air cargo plane with supplies for Ukraine May 24, 2021. (Photo: U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Sidney Lee)
At least three commercial cargo airlines are transporting lethal US military equipment to Ukraine as part of a massive logistics operation to get weapons to front-line fighters and push back Russian invaders.
An NBC News clip on Saturday showed Atlas Air (NASDAQ: AAWW) and Kalitta Air 747 cargo planes taking off from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, headed to Poland carrying munitions for Ukraine. The Biden administration has allocated more than $3.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24.
As previously reported, National Airlines, based in Orlando, Florida, has operated 747 cargo planes loaded with weapons and equipment since before the outbreak of hostilities in late February.
The three cargo carriers operate under existing contracts with the Department of Defense, carrying ammunition for 155 mm howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft systems, handguns, body armor and other equipment, according to NBC and the Pentagon.
NBC said the 747 can hold about 42 artillery shell platforms, or about 3,000 rounds.
Unmarked tractor trailers deliver explosives to Dover Air Force Base, the center of Ukraine’s resupply efforts, from ammunition depots across the country.
A military officer responsible for storage and loading operations at Dover said in an NBC report that the United States shipped more than 7 million pounds of materials to Ukraine in more than 60 flights.
The Pentagon, Atlas Air, Caleta Air and National Airlines did not respond to email requests for more information.
During a call with analysts to discuss first-quarter earnings, Atlas Air CEO John Dietrich said the company supports the U.S. military’s supply efforts to Ukraine.
Atlas Air has the largest fleet of 747 freighters in the world. Caleta operates 22 Boeing 747-400s, according to Flightradar24, and National has six 747-400s.
The three airlines are part of the Civilian Reserve Air Fleet, which gives participants priority for defense operations in exchange for making their fleets available for national security emergencies.
(Updated May 5, 6:47 p.m. ET)
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