Politico: The United States has asked Ukraine to help in the fight against Iranian UAVs
The United States has asked Ukraine to help in the fight against Iranian drones. According to Politico, the Pentagon needs technology to counter UAVs. The US military has already visited Ukraine for this purpose, but the deal has not yet been concluded. Negotiations are currently underway to create an analog acoustic detection system known as the "Heavenly Fortress," The Financial Times found out. Thus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gets "insignificant short-term leverage" over the United States, according to media reports.
The United States has asked Ukraine to assist in the fight against the Iranian Shahed drones, Politico reports, citing sources.
According to the publication, the Pentagon is seeking a deal with Ukraine on the transfer of technology to counter UAVs. This is due to counterattacks by Iran, which, with the help of a drone, hit, in particular, the American command center in Kuwait.
General of the US Armed Forces Matt Ross, along with representatives of the unit responsible for the development and purchase of drone suppression equipment, have already visited Ukraine, where they discussed a "plan to use Ukraine's proven combat experience" in the field of drones. The visit took place last week. However, the deal has not yet been concluded, the publication emphasized.
— the publication says.
In addition, Iranian drones are causing "significant damage" to civilian infrastructure in the Middle East. This prompted some Gulf countries to also "seek advice from Kiev and possibly purchase cheaper interceptors from it."
Several Ukrainian officials, in an interview with Politico, confirmed that interest in their interceptor drones from the United States and some Arab countries caught in the line of fire is growing.
According to the publication, Kiev gets a "new trump card": now Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has "insignificant short-term levers of influence" on the United States. However, he "needs to keep his requests to a minimum," said a Politico source close to the team of US President Donald Trump.
Zelensky has already announced his readiness to exchange interceptor drones to protect against the "Shaheds" for Patriot air defense missiles in short supply in Ukraine, which are present in sufficient numbers in the countries of the Middle East. The Ukrainian leader also announced that he had received a request from the United States for "specific support in protecting against the "Shahids" in the Middle East region."
"I have instructed to provide the necessary funds and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the necessary security," he wrote on his Telegram channel.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian anti-UAV specialists will begin work at US military bases in the Middle East in the coming days.
"Heavenly Fortress"
In order to combat Iranian drones, the possibility of creating an analog acoustic detection system known as the "Sky Fortress" is being considered, The Financial Times reports, citing sources. The United States and the Gulf states are conducting relevant negotiations with Ukraine at the governmental, military and private levels.
"The Americans have sent very specific requests [to Ukraine], so based on their requests, we will provide what they need," said a source familiar with the discussions.
However, negotiations with the Gulf states are difficult because they require consultations in the region "to understand what really works," he added. The possibilities of adapting Ukrainian technologies to the climatic and landscape conditions of the Middle East region are being considered.
The United States and Israel switched to an open military confrontation with Iran on February 28. In the Islamic Republic, many cities were attacked, including its capital, Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, part of his family and 40 high-ranking officers of the Iranian army died on the first day of the military operation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the military operation by the need to neutralize the "existential threat" associated with Tehran's nuclear developments. Trump demanded "unconditional surrender" from Iran.
Tehran retaliates by launching rocket and drone strikes against Israel and American air bases located in the Middle East.
Mikhail Sinev
