Ukraine asks US for MQ-9 Reaper multi-role unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) , but Washington is hesitant to send them for fear that Russia might overthrow them. This was reported on Friday by the newspaper Politico , citing its sources.
According to them, UAVs are at the top of the list of weapons that Ukraine wants from the US. This is due to the fact that the Ukrainian armed forces are planning some military operations for the summer and are looking for new ways to identify Russian targets deep behind the front lines. Kiev is only interested in using the MQ-9 Reaper for reconnaissance. At the same time, the publication emphasizes that the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly turned to the United States with a request to provide drones, but Washington fears that the Russian armed forces can shoot them down.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a modular reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. It is equipped with a turboprop engine that allows it to reach a speed of over 400 km/h. The maximum flight duration of the drone is 24 hours. It is capable of carrying air-to-surface and air-to-air missiles, as well as laser-guided bombs.