American reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-1C Gray Eagle. File photoMOSCOW, June 15Difficulties in training and logistics complicate a possible sale of U.S. MQ-1C Gray Eagle attack drones to Ukraine, Politico reported, citing two U.S. officials. Earlier, Reuters citing sources said that the United States plans to sell four MQ-1C Gray Eagles to Ukraine. The drone is a deeply upgraded version of the MQ-1B Predator from General Dynamics, can stay in the air for up to 30 hours with four Hellfire guided missiles, or four Viper Strike guided bombs to strike ground targets, or eight Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to counter air threats.
Blinken voiced US concern about Ukrainian forces Even if the sale of the four drones takes place in the next few weeks, the Ukrainian military likely won't be able to use them on the front lines for weeks, possibly months, officials said. It usually takes months to learn how to use the system, officials add. According to the publication, Gray Eagle also needs «extensive ground infrastructure», such as runways and secure communication channels. However, it is noted that operators can control drones from outside Ukraine. This requires access to satellite communications. According to a representative of General Atomics, which makes the Gray Eagle, the training period can be reduced to 4-5 weeks. But, as the magazine points out, the decision to sell is not final, it can simply be canceled or blocked in Congress. Foreign sales of weapons also require a formal request and approval from the Department of State.Russian air defense systems destroyed three Ukrainian drones in a day. The Russian Federation previously sent a note to all countries, including the United States, due to the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation stated that the NATO countries are «playing with fire» by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at the military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and, as of March 25, they have completed the main tasks of the first stage — they have significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
