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| US Rejects the Supply of Advanced Gray Eagle MQ-1C Drones to Ukraine |
Washington - The administration of United States (US) President Joe Biden has rejected a request by Kiev to provide advanced Gray Eagle MQ-1C drones to fight a Russian invasion. Washington's rejection was revealed by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) citing an American government source.
One of the reasons given by Washington is that the supply of drones could escalate the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. According to US officials and sources familiar with the matter, the US will not be delivering to Ukraine the Gray Eagle MQ-1C drones that Kiev has been demanding for months. This type of military assistance, they say, could signal to Moscow that the US is providing weapons that can target positions inside Russia. US officials are also worried that the technology used in the drone, especially the camera, could fall into the wrong hands.
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In September, a bipartisan group of members of the US Congress reportedly urged the Biden government to supply Ukraine with armed drones that can stay in the air for more than 24 hours. In their letter, the Washington politicians called for the review process to be expedited, prompting a briefing on Capitol Hill. This was revealed by a congressional official to the WSJ, which was launched on Thursday (10/11/2022).
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems can fly at altitudes of up to 7,600m for more than 27 hours and carry up to four Hellfire missiles. They also have a range of up to 4,600 km via satellite communications, potentially allowing Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Since the start of Russia's military operations in Ukraine in late February, the US has supplied Ukraine with a large quantity of weapons, including reconnaissance and kamikaze drones. Washington has so far resisted calls to provide Kiev with advanced weaponry such as the Patriot air defense system and F-16 fighter jets.
Russia has repeatedly warned the West against pumping Ukraine with weaponry, saying doing so would only prolong the conflict.