Pentagon diverting key anti-drone technology from Ukraine to US forces in the Middle East

CNN via Yahoo ^ | June 5th, 2025 | Natasha Bertrand, CNN

[Mariner]

The Pentagon notified Congress last week that it will be diverting critical anti-drone technology that had been allocated for Ukraine to US Air Force units in the Middle East, according to correspondence obtained by CNN and people familiar with the matter.

The move reflects the US’ shifting defense priorities under President Donald Trump – toward the Middle East and the Pacific – and the fact that US stockpiles of some defense components are becoming increasingly stretched.

The technology, proximity fuzes for the rockets Ukraine uses to shoot down Russian drones, was redirected from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to Air Force Central Command on orders from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, according to the correspondence dated May 29 and sent to the Senate and House Armed Services committees.

[Mariner]

Part of the original Biden largess has been diverted to where it ought to be...supporting US forces.

[adorno]

Pentagon diverting key anti-drone technology from Ukraine to US forces in the Middle East

Likely because NATO can fill the gap and because Ukraine is gaining the skills and capacity to do their own development of that technology. And drones are not that hard to bring down if detected in time.

[rdcbn1]

Unbelievably, the Ukrainian F-16s have been using two AIM -9 Sidewinder missiles to shoot one one Russian Shahed drone.

Obviously, the Ukrainians are not paying for those Sidewinders.

[Mariner]

Ummm, maybe.

Proximity fuses are not easy.

[doc maverick]

“Part of the original Biden largess has been diverted to where it ought to be...supporting US forces.”
Good. If the hysterical, coke snorting EU, UK,Canada, and the Uke punk are going to plan attacks on Russia for 18 months while leaving the US out of the loop when the US is trying to broker peace, let them eat the sh#t sandwich Putin hands them.

[Biblebelter]

Natasha Bertrand, CNN

‘nuff said.

[Mariner]

Are you saying the information is untrue, or a mischaracterization?

[Biblebelter]

I’m saying I NEVER bothered to read the article once I saw its source.

CNN reporting on national security issues.

C’mon man.

[ETCM]

This is the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, which converts cheap and plentiful 70mm Hydra unguided rockets into a short range laser guided missile. The US used some of these to down some Houthi drones, rather than “wasting” expensive Sidewinders. $22K for APKWS vs $500K+ for a sidewinder. These can be fired from the ground or from aircraft with a compatible laser target designation system.

[Kazan]

Good!

It's past time for any involvement we have with the war in Ukraine to end.

[cowboyusa]

This has been a great day!

[adorno]

Proximity fuses are not easy.

Yet very doable and used often.