The MQ-1C Grey Eagle and Bayraktar TB2 drones are vulnerable to air defense systems that are used by Russia during a special operation to protect Donbass. This was told to the American edition of The Drive by Ukrainian pilots with the call signs Moonfish and Juice.
According to them, currently the Ukrainian military has sharply reduced the use of Bayraktar TB2. "The Turkish—made Bayraktar TB2 drones, which are enjoying great success, have become practically useless in the face of more effective Russian air defense," the publication says.
According to Moonfish, it makes sense to use the American MQ-1C Grey Eagle only for reconnaissance at a great distance from the front line. "Knowing the Russian air defense and the range of missiles carried by the Grey Eagle, I give a 90 percent chance that it will be shot down in the first strike sortie," the pilot admitted.
The pilots are sure that instead of the MQ-1C Grey Eagle and Bayraktar TB2, modern Western fighters like the F-16 Fighting Falcon would be useful to the Ukrainian side. "It may take only a few days to learn how to manage this platform," Juice assured.
In June, Republican Adam Kinzinger, a member of the US House of Representatives from Illinois, proposed retraining pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to work on aircraft of the NATO Alliance.
In the same month, Forbes columnist David Ex noted that the Ukrainian Air Force had returned to service the MiG-29 fighter from the disbanded Ukrainian Falcons aerobatic team.
Withdrawal syndrome: Russia
