More than a dozen flights will depart the continental US over the next 24 hours, carrying weapons destined for Ukraine’s armed forces, including more howitzers and the first of the new Phoenix Ghost drones.
A senior defense official told reporters that the new, secretive drones will join 100 switchblades — kamikaze drones with warheads — that have already been shipped.
It comes as Russia smashed targets across Ukraine on Thursday, hitting high-rise buildings in Kyiv, just as the capital was beginning to return to normal.
And the Pentagon said it had begun training some Ukrainian forces on bases in Germany on key weapon systems.
US officials have indicated that they must face a race against time to supply arms to Ukrainian forces as they engage in bitter fighting in the eastern Donbass region.
Last week, President Joe Biden announced he would give them a new weapon – previously classified Phoenix Ghost drones specifically tailored for the conflict.
Very little is known about the new Phoenix Ghost Drones, other than that they operate similarly to the Switchblade Killer Drones shown here, which dash into their targets
A senior defense official said Friday that more than a dozen flights – including the first batch of Phoenix Ghosts – would be carrying weapons from the US to Europe over the next 24 hours
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Isiah Enriquez, a native of Lubbock, Texas, and a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (1/2), 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV), launches a July 7 during a training exercise at Camp Lejeune, NC Switchblade Drone, 2021
The US is trying to provide ammunition that can counteract Russian armor in the next phase of the war
The drones are manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace, but photos were not immediately available
“More than a dozen flights are expected from the continental United States in the next 24 hours, and that includes howitzers, more 155 rounds, some of those Phoenix ghost UAVs, and even some of the radars we talked about,” a defense officer.
Little is known about the unmanned aerial vehicle or drone.
It is manufactured by AEVEX Aerospace. However, the company is known for modifying drones and offering flight training, suggesting the Phoenix Ghost could be based on a commercially available aircraft.
The company did not respond to a request for more information.
However, US officials have previously described it as a “disposable drone” that “delivers a punch”, leading analysts say it could function like a switchblade, capable of loitering over a target before crashing into it with an explosive payload.
The official said training of Ukrainian troops in the new weapon has not yet started.
“We believe the first tranche of these drones should arrive in the region today, but not all 121. The first tranche of them will arrive in the region today,” the official said at Friday’s briefing.
“And again, we’re still working on how to do the specific training on that. We believe that for pilots who already have UAV knowledge, the training will not take very long.’
Later, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced that the US had begun training Ukrainian forces at bases inside Germany.
“These efforts build on the initial artillery training that the Ukrainian armed forces have already received elsewhere, and also include radar system and armored vehicle training recently announced as part of security assistance packages,” he said.
A portion of the training is conducted by members of the Florida National Guard. They were pulled out of Ukraine when an invasion loomed in February but are now resuming work with Ukrainian forces in Germany, Kirby said.
“And what I can tell you is that we’re talking about about three locations outside of Ukraine, and in that case we can definitely identify Germany as a location,” Kirby added.
“But there are other locations outside of Ukraine and we are simply not allowed to disclose where they are.
FILE – A Ukrainian soldier walks past a Russian tank after recent fighting in the village of Moshchun near Kyiv, Ukraine, April 19, 2022. Drones are capable of knocking out Russian armor
The Ukrainians have also successfully targeted Russian armaments using Turkish-made drones
More weapons will pour in over the next 24 hours as the US and its partners seek to shore up Ukrainian defenses against an expected Russian push in Donbass.
“We believe they are essentially continuing to create conditions for a sustained and larger and longer offensive, which I am not suggesting the offensive has not been carried out. Of course they started – there’s fighting going on there,” the official said.
“But we still think part of that is that they’re trying to create the right conditions for sustained offensive operations.”
The urgency was evident this week when Biden asked Congress to authorize an additional $33 billion in spending on Ukraine.
“The United States alone has deployed 10 anti-tank systems for every Russian tank in Ukraine — 10 to 1,” Biden said
“We provide Ukraine with important information in a timely manner to help it defend itself against the Russian attack.
“And we are facilitating a significant flow of weapons and systems into Ukraine from our allies and partners around the world, including tanks, artillery and other weapons.”
Poland has sent more than 200 Soviet-era T-72 main battle tanks (file picture) to Ukraine as part of a $1.6 billion military aid package as fighting intensifies
Poland has also sent Warmate drones – a less advanced version of the American switchblades that have an explosive charge in their noses (left and right).
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky tweeted: “Thank you @POTUS and the American people for your leadership in supporting Ukraine in our fight against Russian aggression.
Other nations have followed this example. The Bundestag decided this week to start delivering heavy weapons.
And Poland sent hundreds of tanks.
Warsaw has sent more than 200 originally Soviet-made T-72s to Ukraine in recent weeks, the country’s national radio station said today, along with mobile artillery, drones and rocket launchers as part of a $1.6 billion package.