US sending attack-focused ‘Ghost’ drones to Ukraine in new US$800 million weapons package
- The unmanned vehicles have similar but distinct capabilities to the Switchblade drones already provided, which target both Russian personnel and tanks
- The drones were expedited to aid against Moscow’s invasion, and were rapidly developed specifically to meet Ukrainian requirements
The latest US$800 million package of weaponry President Joe Biden is sending Ukraine includes dozens of “Phoenix Ghost” drones the Pentagon says were expedited specifically to aid the fight against Russia.
The unmanned aerial vehicles built by AEVEX Aerospace were “rapidly developed by the Air Force in response specifically to Ukrainian requirements”, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.
Kirby said the drones have similar but distinct capabilities to the Switchblade drones the US has already been providing Ukraine to target both Russian personnel and tanks as the war drags on.
“We believed that this particular system would very nicely suit their needs, particularly in eastern Ukraine,” Kirby said.
“It can also be used to give you a sight picture of what it’s seeing, of course,” the spokesman said. “But its principal focus is attack.”
The drone was in development before the war began and is part of the Air Force’s inventory, Kirby said.