US deploys Ukrainian anti-drone tech in Middle East, Reuters reports
Photo: The US deploys Ukrainian anti-drone technology in the Middle East (Getty Images)
US military personnel have deployed Ukrainian anti-drone technology at the key Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, aiming to counter Iranian attacks that have resulted in aircraft losses and the death of a service member, Reuters reports.
According to the agency’s sources, Ukrainian military specialists arrived at the US air base in Saudi Arabia to train American personnel to operate the Sky Map system.
The platform is widely used by Ukrainian forces to detect drone threats, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, and to carry out counterattacks using interceptor drones.
As low-cost drones continue to play a major role in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Pentagon has increased investment in counter-drone technologies.
At the same time, the use of Ukrainian technology at Prince Sultan Air Base, located about 640 kilometers from Iran and repeatedly targeted by waves of drone and missile attacks since the start of the war, highlights vulnerabilities in US air and missile defense systems.
Ukraine’s interceptor drone support
According to Axios, Ukraine attempted to sell its interceptor drones to the United States as far back as seven months ago, including systems that had already been battle-tested.
At the time, the administration of President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, but it has changed its approach now.
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine had received a request from the United States for support in defending against Shahed attack drones used by Iran to strike countries in the Middle East.
However, Trump later said that the US did not need Ukraine’s help in shooting down Iranian drones, adding that American drones are the best in the world.
It was also reported that the US Army has deployed 10,000 Merops interceptor drones to the Middle East — systems that have already been used by Ukrainian forces.
