The 'Mega-Deal': How Ukraine & the U.S. May Swap Drones for Munitions
Deal could be worth tens of billions of dollars
Despite closely observing the war and its innovations, the U.S. Army only recently announced it would begin equipping all active-duty combat divisions with drones— 1,000 per division, a relative pittance compared to the scale of the drone war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian drones are cheaper than their American counterparts, and they are produced in large quantities with constant improvements based on battlefield applications.
That’s why, according to Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine and the U.S. are teaming up for a “megadeal” that could see Kyiv supply drones for the American military.
“With America, with President Trump, we agreed that they will buy drones from us. There is such an agreement ... It’s very important to prepare this contract for 10-20-30 billion dollars,” Zelensky said last week.
The U.S. has yet to comment on the deal, but U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the Pentagon plans to scale up the integration and production capacity of inexpensive drones. He emphasized that the army lacks small drones, which he said are being produced in the millions by “American adversaries.”
“I’m in favor of anything that, number one, helps Ukraine and, number two, accelerates the U.S. Department of Defense’s ability to grow its own drone and counter-drone capabilities,” said Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army general who once commanded forces in Europe.
I hope the Ukrainians develop some kind of "killer switch" that makes their drones useless if they want them to.