Posted on 04/22/2022 4:45:49 AM PDT by GonzoII
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. to include clarifying comments from the Pentagon press secretary on when the Phoenix Ghost was developed.The Pentagon is giving Ukraine a secretive new drone that the U.S. Air Force has developed—one that “very nicely” suits the needs of the Ukrainian military, the Pentagon revealed April 21.
The U.S. will deliver at least 121 of the new Phoenix Ghost tactical unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine as part of a new $800 million assistance package announced by Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby. But, what is the Phoenix Ghost?
“This is a drone that had been in development before the invasion, clearly,” Kirby said during an afternoon press briefing. “The Air Force was working this, and in discussions with the Ukrainians about their requirements, we believed that this particular system would very nicely suit their needs, particularly in eastern Ukraine.”
Kirby’s comments mark a slight change from those made by a senior defense official earlier in the day. In a background briefing, the official said the Phoenix Ghost was “rapidly developed by the Air Force, in response, specifically, to Ukrainian requirements.”
Kirby said he did not have an exact date for when Phoenix Ghost started development. But given that the Air Force had at least 120 to send from its inventory, “You’re not going to have 120 on your shelves if you just started buying them on the 24th of February,” the day Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.
....snip
The exact capabilities that Phoenix Ghost will offer to Ukraine are being kept under wraps, as Kirby declined to comment. But he did say the drone is “akin” to the Switchblade drone that the U.S. has already delivered to Ukraine…
(Excerpt) Read more at airforcemag.com ...
I hope it has a self destruct button
Guess it’s not secretive any more....
These are not defensive weapons.
That ups the arms transfer up to about 3.5 Illini so far. Anyone still not clear why the deep state wanted no part of President Trump ?
Ah the phoenix program runs again!
Wonderful. This will ensure the war continues for months, and increases the likelihood of an attack on Russian soil, which increases a tactical nuke response.
Any weapon is useful for defense. If you mean because it can kill armor, it certainly is defensive. Molotov cocktails and short range AT stuff is really risky business.
If I reasonably know a threat is coming and I can target and engage at a mile, my 338LM is a defensive weapon. If I decide to shoot an innocent man at a mile or an inch, that’s not defensive.
Yeah brandon is intent on making sure putin knows exactly what Ukraine is getting from us....who does that?.....besides geraldo riveira I mean........stooooopid.
SMH
How much will they bring on the black market?
Spill the beans you headline whores
Maybe it’s already been busy over there. Maybe if ‘started’ the ‘ammo’ fire on the Moskva....??
That's code for 'the Chinese have a working copy.'
NO worries. Government contractors throw self-destruct buttons in at cost.
“Ah the phoenix program runs again!” It must be a CIA operation.
Not much. The black market prefers to make “Loot or Smash and Grab Purchases”.
bkmk
A curious oxymoron - defensive weapon.
Great now Russia will have that as well,hey Joe did you get another check for that to?
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