However, the M107 license was too obviously of marginal consequence to be credible, which may explain why a few days after announcing the M107 deal while excluding the Javelin, the administration apparently reversed itself and also issued a Javelin license—even though it was curtailed to just 35 launcher-units.

Because importing Javelins had been accorded such symbolic importance, Kiev was willing to pay for a small quantity of pricey anti-tank missiles in the hopes it will encourage other NATO countries to provide lethal military assistance. For example, Canada has also green-lit arms sales to Ukraine.

In the end, the U.S. was already and is still giving “free” training and non-lethal hardware—namely, electronic warfare and communications systems as well as counterbattery radars—which are much more desperately needed by the Ukrainian military according to most commentators.

While providing big guns like the M107 draws attention, and even arguably has a certain tactical rationale, it’s likely less important than ongoing transfers intended to enable Ukrainian troops to resist Russian jamming, hacking and drones.