Ukraine reiterates requests for US MQ-9 Reaper drones: Politico
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Kiev reportedly wants the MQ-9 drones by summer as part of its plans to help identify Russian targets deep behind the frontlines.
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A US MQ-9 drone is on display during an air show at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)
Ukraine is reiterating its requests for the United States to supply it with MQ-9 Reaper drones, Politico cited informed sources as saying.
Kiev has been asking for more powerful weapons for months as it struggles to contain advancing Russian forces, but the news website noted that although the request for the MQ-9s isn't new, Ukraine has become more persistent in recent months about acquiring them.
It emphasized that Ukraine reportedly wants the MQ-9 drones by the summer as part of its plans to help identify Russian targets deep behind the frontlines.
Initially, Kiev requested the drones in order to carry out strikes and surveillance operations, but sources told Politico that the US ally now claims it wants the MQ-9s for reconnaissance.
However, the report pointed out that the United States is hesitant about supplying Ukraine with the aforementioned drones over concerns that Russian forces would shoot them down.
Hensoldt to transfer 6 air defense radars to Ukraine
In a related context, German defense firm Hensoldt has announced that it would deliver six TRML-4D air defense radars to Ukraine in 2024 as part of an order worth over 100 million euros ($107.7 million).
"Sensor specialist HENSOLDT is supplying six more of its high-performance TRML-4D radars to Ukraine to strengthen the country's air defence. As part of a comprehensive order package worth over 100 million euros, the six radars will be delivered later this year," the company mentioned in a statement on Friday.
According to Hensoldt, the radars can track about 1,500 targets within a radius of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles), as well as detect, track and classify "all types of aerial targets — cruise missiles, drones and aeroplanes as well as helicopters."
Amid continuous Western arms supplies to Ukraine, Russia continues to warn the West of a direct confrontation
Russian air defense systems shot down four US-supplied ATACMS missiles over Crimea in the past night, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"Over the past night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using US ATACMS tactical missiles against facilities on the Russian territory was stopped. Four tactical missiles were destroyed by air defense systems on duty over the territory of the Crimean peninsula," the Ministry said.
Read more: Russia says shot down US-made missiles launched by Ukraine over Crimea
