KYIV ,UkraineGate ,18 , June , 2022 | Society.
According to Reuters, according to two people familiar with the matter, the Biden administration’s plan to sell four large MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine was suspended due to fears that its secret surveillance equipment could fall into the hands of the enemy – Russia .
Details
The objection to the export of drones is said to be due to fears that radar and drone surveillance equipment could pose a threat to US security if they fall into Russian hands.
Sources at the Pentagon said that this consideration was overlooked at the initial hearing, but surfaced in talks late last week. The decision to extend the agreement is currently being considered by higher authorities at the Pentagon, but the timing of any decision is unclear.
One solution could be to replace the existing radar and sensor system with a simplified version, but it could take months to develop and install.
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Four Gray Eagle drones produced by General Atomics were originally intended for the US Army. According to official documents, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle costs from $ 10 million per copy.
The MQ-1C is a much larger UAV with a maximum takeoff weight of about three times that of the Bayraktar-TB2, with corresponding advantages in payload, range and endurance.
The MQ-1C is also compatible with more ammunition than the Bayraktar-TB2. Ukrainian Bayraktars are equipped with 22-kilogram Turkish-made MAM-L missiles, which is about half the weight of Hellfire.
Before
The Biden administration plans to sell to Ukraine four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, which can be armed with Hellfire missiles for use on the battlefield against Russia. According to Reuters sources, the sale of General Atomics drones may still be blocked by Congress, adding that there is also a risk of a last-minute policy change that could thwart the Pentagon’s plan for weeks.
Source: Ukrgate
