Based on an article published by Politico, it was learned that Ukraine is increasingly interested in acquiring MQ-9 Reaper drones from the United States to support its armed forces missions and gain an advantage over the latest advances recorded by the Russian Ground Forces on various fronts. If realized, the acquisition of this type of unmanned aerial vehicle would add to a wide range of highly sophisticated systems such as HIMARS, M1A1 Abrams tanks, and more recently, F-16 fighters from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway with the approval of the State Department.
According to the explanation provided by the American media, since the beginning of the war, Kiev has had its eye on the system manufactured by General Atomics with the intention of acquiring them as a priority for use in attack, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. However, the acquisition was sidelined in favor of other systems such as tanks and artillery systems. Now, the incorporation of this type of UAS has become a priority for the Ukrainian government. While this is not yet confirmed, various sources consulted by Politico indicate that the drones would be used for reconnaissance behind enemy lines.
It is necessary to highlight that in recent weeks, the decision was made from the European country to withdraw M1A1 Abrams tanks from various sectors of the front due to losses suffered from Russian drone attacks, understanding this as a reflection of the significant advancement of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Russo-Ukrainian war theater. Additionally, in recent days, the capture and display in Moscow of one of these U.S.-origin armored vehicles were recorded.
Likewise, the incorporation aligns with recent acquisitions by Ukraine, such as the multirole F-16 fighters expected to arrive in the coming weeks, as reported by Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson, Ilya Yevlash. Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands are some of the countries that have committed F-16 fighters to Ukraine, with others committing to training Ukrainian pilots to operate standard NATO multirole fighters.
Returning to the MQ-9 drones, it is still not confirmed whether the United States will transfer units from its own inventory, if Washington approves, or whether those already patrolling the Black Sea will be used. On the other hand, other sources consulted by Politico mention that if this decision is made, it is most likely that they would not be transferred with their array of armaments including guided anti-tank missiles and guided bombs, completely limiting their offensive capabilities, which would indicate that the United States is not convinced with the idea of transferring these systems to Ukraine, as they could be shot down by Russian forces, who could obtain sensitive information about the system.
Regarding capabilities, the MQ-9 has a 25-hour endurance, along with sophisticated multimode electro-optical vision systems and communication technology. It can coordinate with both ground and air assets, conducting surveillance missions of ground movements from a safe altitude and distance. A defining feature is the Raytheon Technologies (now RTX) Multispectral Targeting System-B (MTS-B) electro-optical pod, which provides real-time intelligence, targeting, and tracking to units in operational areas.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes.
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