U.S. plans to sell armed drones to Ukraine in coming days

[Nevilledog]

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Olivier Knox
@OKnox
Meanwhile, away from the mobile longer-range artillery going to Ukraine, Reuters says U.S. plans to sell armed drones to Ukraine in coming days.

Workers prepare an MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle for static display at Michael Army Airfield, Dugway Proving Ground in Utah in this September 15, 2011 US Army handout photo obtained by Reuters February 6, 2013. REUTERS/U.S. Army/Spc. Latoya Wiggins/Handout (UNITED STATES - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A...
reuters.com

EXCLUSIVE U.S. plans to sell armed drones to Ukraine in coming days -sources
The Biden administration plans to sell Ukraine four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones that can be armed with Hellfire missiles for battlefield use against Russia, three people familiar with the situation said.
1:23 PM · Jun 1, 2022

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/exclusive-us-plans-sell-armed-drones-ukraine-coming-days-sources-2022-06-01/

WASHINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - The Biden administration plans to sell Ukraine four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones that can be armed with Hellfire missiles for battlefield use against Russia, three people familiar with the situation said.

The sale of the General Atomics-made drones could still be blocked by Congress, the sources said, adding that there is also a risk of a last minute policy reversal that could scuttle the plan, which has been under review at the Pentagon for several weeks.

Ukraine has been using several types of smaller shorter range unmanned aerial systems against Russian forces that invaded the country in late February. They include the AeroVironment (AVAV.O) RQ-20 Puma AE, and the Turkish Bayraktar-TB2.

But the Gray Eagle represents a leap in technology because it can fly up to 30 or more hours depending on its mission and can gather huge amounts of data for intelligence purposes. Gray Eagles, the Army's version of the more widely known Predator drone, can also carry up to eight powerful Hellfire missiles.

*snip*

[Budi]

1. K & R Give them everything they need

[crickets]

2. Good. K&R for visibility.

[ColinC]

3. Still shocked that the himars actually seem to have went through

Will be shocked if these do too