The Biden administration has revealed previously classified support for Ukraine’s military drone industry, which included financial assistance to drone manufacturers, the purchase of components, and the deployment of U.S. intelligence personnel to Ukraine to assist in program development.
The Biden administration has revealed previously classified support for Ukraine’s military drone industry, which included financial assistance to drone manufacturers, the purchase of components, and the deployment of U.S. intelligence personnel to Ukraine to assist in program development.
U.S. officials told The New York Times that they have made significant investments in helping Ukraine launch and expand its drone production capabilities, including last September’s $1.5 billion in support for Ukrainian drone production. Officials said they have since ramped up support for Ukrainian drone manufacturers, with the Pentagon providing $800 million for drone components and funding for manufacturers.
The support, which «remained largely in the shadows,» included «helping Ukraine develop a new generation of drones that, according to American officials, revolutionized the way war is waged,» the NYT writes.
According to the US President’s National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, this support had a «real strategic impact» on the war.
«We have seen UAVs become an increasingly important element of the fight in Ukraine and will play a central role in all future battles,» Sullivan said in a statement on January 16.
In an interview this week, CIA Director William Burns indirectly mentioned his agency’s involvement, saying
«I think our intelligence support has helped the Ukrainians protect themselves, not just in sharing intelligence but also in supporting some of the systems that have proven to be so effective.»
American officials also noted that these investments have increased the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones, citing the destruction of a quarter of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet with the help of naval drones and the successful use of drones on the front lines against the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine.
