The Biden administration has
refused to send warplanes to Ukraine but is now planning to
equip Kyiv with some of the most modern and deadly long-range drones,
according to people familiar with discussions.
The plan would involve selling
four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones – a more powerful version of the unmanned
Predator aircraft and capable of carrying eight Hellfire missiles – for
battlefield use against Russian forces.
The sale of the General
Atomics-made drones could still be blocked by Congress, according to sources
who said the plan has been discussed at the Pentagon for weeks.
Ukraine has made effective use
of smaller, shorter-range unmanned systems. The Turkish Bayraktar-TB2 in
particular has been celebrated for its battlefield success.
Details of the latest plan
emerged as the White House announced a new $70 million round of military aid
for Ukraine, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
‘This new package will arm
them with new capabilities and advanced weaponry, including HIMARS with
battlefield munitions, to defend their territory from Russian advances,’ said
President Joe Biden in a statement.
‘We will continue to lead the
world in providing historic assistance to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom.’
