The U.S. Air Force has developed a new “Phoenix Ghost” drone system in response to Ukraine’s needs in the war with Russia, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced on Thursday, April 21.
More than 120 such drones will be provided to Ukraine as part of the new military aid package, he added, CNN reports.
“It was developed rapidly by the Air Force in response specifically to Ukrainian requirements,” Kirby said.
“It offers similar capabilities to the Switchblade series of unmanned systems — similar capabilities, but not exactly. There are differences in the capacity of the Phoenix Ghost system,” the American official also underlined.
However, Kirby did not specify the differences in capabilities between the Switchblade and Phoenix Ghost systems. He added that the new system would require “minimal training for knowledgeable UAS operators” and that the U.S. Department of Defense was “working” on these requirements with the Ukrainian military.
In addition, regarding the howitzers in the new aid package that will be used to equip five additional Ukrainian battalions, Kirby said that they are provided according to Ukrainian needs for the fighting in the Donbas region, which the department expects to continue for weeks.
