The war in Ukraine has shown that conflicts have changed forever. Armies do not want to fill their battalions with soldiers, but rather rely on drones that shoot with artificial intelligence or shoot down their targets in mid-flight.
The United States has been the world’s leading supplier, but the war in Ukraine has changed everything. The pentagon needs more drones and air defense systems than ever after the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
They cannot defend themselves against Iranian drones
The United States reserves are beginning to be limited, now it is Ukraine that is in charge of closing million-dollar contracts to manufacture its own interceptors. kyiv’s military needs to defend itself from Russian Iranian drone attacks.
Gulf countries have been using Patriot missiles to defend against waves of Iranian Shahed drones. The entry of the United States and Israel into the conflict has only exacerbated the problem.
The United States has strike power, but needs to defend itself against Iranian drones. The situation has taken a radical turn, Now it is the US military that is turning to Ukraine’s experience.
The country has stopped attacks by Shahed drones that Russia launches against Ukrainian cities in swarms. The Russian versions are very similar to the original Iranian ones, so the experience of the Ukrainian military is more valuable than ever.
Shahed drones only cost about $30,000, while Patriot system missiles like the PAC-3 cost more than $13.5 million. The United States needs to lower the price of its air defense systems.
Ukraine returns the favor to the United States
The Pentagon now needs Ukraine’s collaboration. After years of conflict, they have managed to design extremely simple takedown drones that can intercept the Shahed at very low cost.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian president, confirmed last Tuesday that he had been in contact with Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates. Ukraine could give up its knowledge in the war against Iran.
«Ukraine’s experience in the fight against ‘Shahed’ drones is currently the most advanced in the world. However, any such cooperation aimed at protecting our partners can only be carried out without undermining our own defense capabilities,» Zelensky declared.
Ukraine’s strategy is simple. The kyiv army bets on cheap weapons to shoot down drones such as anti-aircraft guns and trucks with machine guns. They do not want to waste medium-range missiles on a Shahed drone that costs just a few thousand euros.
Since autumn, Ukraine has also used fast-flying interceptors that They reach 250 km/h, faster than a Shahed with a maximum speed of 185 km/h. Russian Geran-3 drones still remain a threat flying at more than 550 km/h.