Biden Administration Plans to Sell Powerful Combat Drones to Ukraine

The Biden administration is considering the sale of four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones to Ukraine, which is a modified version of the MQ-1 Predator drone widely utilized by the United States in Afghanistan. This information comes from Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the situation, as reported by rbc.ru.

Experts suggest that the Gray Eagle's maximum take-off weight exceeds that of the Turkish Bayraktar by nearly three times, allowing it to be equipped with more powerful munitions, specifically Hellfire missiles, which weigh about twice as much as the MAM-L missiles that arm the Bayraktars. Additionally, the Gray Eagle has the capability to stay airborne much longer and gather a larger volume of intelligence data during flights.

Funds for the sale of drones are included in a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine. However, the decision regarding the sale of drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces may face obstruction in Congress, and there could also be a “policy shift” within the Biden administration, according to sources cited by Reuters.