Pentagon Sends 121 Phoenix Ghosts To Help Ukraine Fight Putin's Troops

JAKARTA - The Pentagon has again provided reinforcements for Ukraine. This time a secret drone was sent called the Phoenix Ghost. This sophisticated weapon developed by the US Air Force is considered very suitable for the needs of the Ukrainian military.

In addition to the Switchblade drones referred to as kamikaze drones, the Phoenix Ghost is included in a new $800 million aid package announced by Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.

"This is a drone that was developed before the invasion, obviously," Kirby said.

Kirby seems to want to reduce tensions if only Russia will be more angry with the delivery of this weapon. He admitted that he forgot the exact date when Phoenix Ghost began development.

"You won't have 120 on your shelf if you just start buying it on February 24 (the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine)," Kirby told Air Force Magazine.

The US Air Force and AEVEX Aerospace developed the Phoenix Ghost in a matter of months in response to special requirements from Ukraine. The UAV is similar to one-way drones like the Switchblade, but Kirby refuses to give too many specifics about its capabilities.

Phoenix Ghost will require some minimal training for Ukrainian service members already trained on drones, Kirby said. A senior defense official said the first flights with the equipment announced in Thursday's package would leave the United States within the next 24-48 hours and the first round would be in the hands of the Ukrainian military over the weekend.

"What may not be as well-spoken as it should be [is] developed to a set of requirements that closely match what Ukraine needs right now in the Donbas," Kirby said, referring to the eastern region of Ukraine where Russia has focused its attacks in recent days.

Switchblades are often referred to as "kamikaze drones" or "roaming munitions" because they are capable of flying over a target before crashing and exploding in a precision strike. Different versions of the Switchblade can fly between 15 and 40 minutes, with a range of 10 to 40 kilometers.

The Phoenix Ghost "is designed for tactical operations," Kirby said. “In other words, mostly but not exclusively for attacking targets. It, like almost all unmanned aerial systems, of course, has optics. So it can also be used to give you an idea of what he's seeing, of course, but the main focus is attack."