Ukrainian President Zelenskyy proposes collaboration with the U.S. in the drone industry
In a significant development, Ukraine and the United States are on the brink of a major agreement that could transform the landscape of aerial warfare and defense cooperation. The proposed deal, which involves Ukraine selling its combat-hardened drone systems to the US in exchange for advanced air defense systems like Patriot missiles, is being hailed as a "mega deal" and a win-win arrangement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy [1][2][3].
Ukraine's drones, tested extensively in over three years of intense warfare against Russia's full-scale invasion, have proven their worth. These include FPV kamikaze drones and long-range aerial drones capable of striking up to 1,300 km inside Russian territory. They have successfully targeted and destroyed strategic Russian military assets such as strategic bombers, missile production facilities, and even Russian navy ships [1][3].
The US acquisition aims to incorporate Ukraine’s rapid innovations in modern drone warfare, addressing warnings from experts that American drone technology is currently lagging behind that of Russia and China [2]. Parallel talks are underway to expand similar cooperation with European allies like Denmark, Norway, and Germany, amplifying the defense cooperation framework set by this deal [1].
For the US, acquiring Ukraine’s drone technology represents an opportunity to modernize and enhance its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, critical in maintaining high-tech advantages in modern warfare environments [2]. The drones' frontline combat performance offers direct operational experience that could help the US and allies adapt to evolving threats.
For Ukraine, the weapons supply from the US, encompassing air defense systems and other advanced military hardware, strengthens its ability to defend against Russian air assaults and sustain its resistance on the battlefield [2]. The operational success of Ukrainian drones, such as the “Operation Spider Web” where over a hundred drones simultaneously struck military targets deep in Russia, underscores the evolving nature of robotic and drone warfare, signaling a shift in strategic military doctrine both for Ukraine and the US [1][3].
This agreement promises to reshape the future of aerial warfare and defense cooperation between the two nations and their allies. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament has appointed Denys Shmyhal as the new Defense Minister, while Russia and Ukraine have again exchanged drone attacks, resulting in casualties on both sides. In the western Russian city of Voronezh, three minors were injured when debris from previously shot-down drones hit a multi-story building. Switzerland will only receive five Patriot systems for air defense ordered from the USA in 2022 with a delay. Top managers of some of the largest Russian banks have reportedly discussed applying for a state bailout. Luxembourg has increased its contribution to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund by ten million euros.
In other news, Ukraine reports 64 Shahed drones and other types of drones overnight, with 23 drones hitting 5 locations and 36 being destroyed. In the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, a Russian drone attack resulted in at least one death and five injuries. Colonel Reisner of the Austrian Armed Forces warns that the situation around Pokrovsk has dramatically deteriorated without public notice. A pro-Russian resident of the Ukrainian city of Cherkassy has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for allegedly leaking data on Ukrainian air defense. Russia claims to have intercepted 126 Ukrainian drones, most of which were destroyed in regions near the Ukrainian border. The average price for Russian oil in the first two weeks of July was around 4,700 rubles per barrel, about 11% below the budget target. Ukraine has appointed Olha Stefanishyna as the new envoy to the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considering a deal with the USA where the government in Washington buys Ukrainian drones and the government in Kyiv acquires US weapons in return. US President Donald Trump wants to persuade European allies to hand over weapons systems to Kyiv and buy new US weapons in return. Operations at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg were temporarily suspended due to a drone attack, causing at least ten flight delays.
- As Ukraine and the United States make strides in their potential major agreement on aerial warfare and defense cooperation, discussions are also underway to extend similar cooperation with European allies, like Denmark, Norway, and Germany, in leveraging the rapid innovations in Ukraine's employment policy of drone warfare, addressing the lag in American drone technology compared to Russia and China [1].
- The proposed deal, in which Ukraine provides its combat-hardened drone systems to the US in exchange for advanced air defense systems like the Patriot missiles, could potentially be replicated in Ukraine's community policy of weapons trade, with the US government purchasing these drones and the Ukrainian government acquiring US weapons in return [3].
