Ukraine to train Middle East partners to intercept Iranian Shahed drones - ISW

Ukrainian experience in countering drones

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is ready to share its developments in the field of air defense with partners.

According to him, Ukrainian specialists have significant combat experience fighting Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and other aerial threats.

It is noted that on March 9, an "unspecified number of Ukrainian experts and military personnel" will depart from Ukraine to train Middle East countries in methods of destroying drones.

Interest from Gulf countries

It is also reported that several states in the region are showing interest in Ukrainian developments in counter-drone technologies.

In particular, this concerns Gulf countries that are considering purchasing Ukrainian Shahed interceptors.

According to analysts, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait are likely to show interest in such systems.

Analysts' assessment

At the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), analysts note that Ukraine has accumulated unique experience in countering Iranian aerial attacks.

During the war, Ukrainian military forces managed to systematize the knowledge they gained and implement it in practice.

"Ukraine's institutional knowledge has enabled Ukrainian firms to rapidly develop and refine capabilities specifically tailored to counter Iranian-origin weapons, and continued investment into Ukraine's defense industrial base (DIB) is important for not just Ukrainian security but also for the United States and its allies," ISW concludes.

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