General atomics offers two MQ-9 drones to Kyiv for just $ 1. US drone maker wants Kyiv to bear shipping and maintenance costs . Will Biden admin approve the sale of reapers to Kyiv?
General atomics a leading US drones maker has offered to sell the Ukrainian govt two MQ-9 Reaper drones for a dollar. The offer comes as Ukraine prepares for an anticipated Russian winter offensive in the coming weeks . The firm is reportedly offering an older version of the
Drone , MQ-9A Block 1 aircraft , which costs several million dollars a piece . The proposal was made by the company CEO Linden Blue to Ukraine defense attach in Washington last week. Report say that neither the US nor the Ukrainian govt have so far commented on the proposal
A deal too costly for Ukraine?
Although Reapers will come dirt cheap but they are likely to exact additional coast from Kyiv . As per WSJ, the deal would require Kyiv to spend about $18 million on logistics and maintenance of older model drones.
Additional cost that Ukraine will have to bear?
About $10 million prepare and ship the aircraft to Ukraine. About $8 million each year for maintenance and sustainment . Build a ground control station to operate the drones almost anywhere.
By making the offer, General Atomics is proposing to sell the Reapers directly to the Ukraine govt as opposed to through the US govt . However the sale of the drones would still require the Biden administration approval .
What are MQ-9 Reaper Drones?
The MQ-9A is turboprop-powered , multi mission remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) that was first flown in 2021. The drone has a unique capability to carry out strike operation , gather data abd monitor high value targets . The US Air Force flies the Reapers which are bigger and can carry a
heavier payload. The US Air force is already operating the aircraft in Europe as it began flying Reaper missions from Romania . If approved the drones will equip the Ukrainian military with vital capabilities to monitor and target Russian forces . The Reaper would enable Ukrainian
Forces to target and monitor Russian troops from a safer distances.
Will Biden admin approve the sales?
The while house has so far resisted Ukraine calls for Reapers as it fears drone sensitive technology falling into Russian hands . According to reports, the US army is also looking into modifying the MQ-9 drones to avoid risk of exposing critical tech . Ukrainian authorities met with General atomics in April 2022 to discuss the potential purchase of Reaper and Predator
Armed drones. The US was reportedly considering selling four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones also made by General atomics to Ukraine in June 2022 . The Ukrainian have been asking Washington for the MQ-9 Reaper and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle for months. The Pentagon decision
Has reportedly frustrated officials in Kyiv as well as the CEO of general atomics. The offer by general atomics comes as a time when the Ukrainian govt had recently renewed its push for the drones. Kyiv is looking for drones that can also carry laser-guided munitions and advanced Optics for long-range surveillance .
Drones provided by the US to Ukraine.
The US has thus far provided over 700 smaller drones to Ukraine over the past year including switchblade drones. switchblade are not armed but can be carried in backpacks and are used to crash into targets . The loitering munition have been used extensively to defend Ukrainian
positions as per report. The Reaper however is a much more sophisticated drone with significantly longer rangers speeds and capabilities .
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