American MQ-9 Reaper drones are at the top of the list of weapons that Ukraine wants to receive from the United States, PoliticoPro writes, citing its sources.
Ukraine is increasingly interested in receiving the American MQ-9 Reaper spy drone, as it plans operations for the summer and is looking for new ways to help identify Russian targets deep behind the front lines, the publication writes. It is noted that these drones have been a priority for Kiev since the first days of the war. However, while they were previously planned to be used for both strike and reconnaissance missions, Ukraine is now mainly interested in using the MQ-9 Reaper for reconnaissance only, the sources said.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a modular reconnaissance and strike drone that was developed for the US Air Force and Navy, as well as the British Air Force, Ukrainian agency UNIAN recalls. Its first flight took place in February 2001. The drone is equipped with a turboprop engine that allows it to reach a speed of over 400 km/h. Its wingspan is approximately over 20 meters, it can stay in the air for over 24 hours and carry a combat payload. /BGNES
