Ghost drones, helicopters and howitzers: Here’s a look at the weapons the U.S. is sending Ukraine

WASHINGTON — From heavy artillery to tactical drones to armored vehicles, the U.S. has provided $3.4 billion in weapons to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion two months ago.

The latest military aid package of $800 million, which is the eighth installment of aid, comes after eight weeks of war and as Russian forces prepare for a renewed fight in the east and south of Ukraine.

Here’s a look at the weapons the U.S. has committed to the fight thus far.

Drones

Included in the latest security package, are 121 tactical unmanned aerial systems dubbed “Phoenix Ghost” drones.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that the drones were “rapidly developed by the Air Force, in response, specifically to Ukrainian requirements.”

“It provides similar capabilities to the Switchblade series of unmanned systems, similar capabilities but not exact. There are other differences in the scope of capability for the Phoenix Ghosts, but I’m just not going to be able to get into more detail about those capabilities right now,” Kirby said.

The drones are manufactured by Aevex Aerospace in Solana Beach, Calif., and are currently in the U.S. Air Force arsenal. Once the drones are in the region, U.S. troops will have to train Ukrainian forces on how to operate them, Kirby told reporters during a daily press briefing. He did not provide a timeline for when the drones would arrive in the region.

The U.S. has also committed at least 300 Switchblade drones manufactured by U.S.-based firm AeroVironment. There are two variants of the weapon, the Switchblade 300 and the 600. It was not immediately clear which version the U.S. deployed to Ukraine.

Each Switchblade is designed to be a single-use or a “kamikaze” drone.

The 300 variant is designed to strike small targets. It can fit in a rucksack, weighs a little over 5 pounds and has a range of 10 miles. The 600 version of the weapon is designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles. It weighs slightly more than 120 pounds and has a range of more than 40 miles.

Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, to the Ukrainian government.

In addition, the U.S. has committed nearly 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine, 6,000 portable AT-4 anti-armor systems as well as other laser-guided rocket systems.

Aircraft and radars

The U.S. has agreed to send at least 11 Mi-17 Russian military helicopters that were once slated to join Afghanistan’s military fleet before the stunning Taliban takeover of the country.

The Mi-17s are personnel transport helicopters that can be armed with cannons and rockets, to perform attack or close air support roles.

The U.S. military has also committed 10 of the highly mobile AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars. This radar system is capable of locating mortars, artillery and rockets within a short-range.

Two Raytheon AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel air surveillance radars have also joined the fight in Ukraine. The Sentinel system is designed to alert front-line air-defense weapons whenever it catches a glimpse of hostile planes, helicopters, drones or missiles. 

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Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/22/roundup-of-us-weapons-for-ukraine.html