An MQ-9A Reaper in flight. Photo courtesy of General Atomics.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States has reportedly met with officials of San Diego-based General Atomics to seek sophisticated drones to aid in her country’s battle with Russia.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Oksana Markarov met last week with representatives from General Atomics, the maker of the iconic Predator drone.
“Together with our team, we discussed with General Atomics the prospects of increasing the capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the current situation in Ukraine,” Markarova told the Post.
The newspaper did not report what specific weapons were discussed, but General Atomics supplies the Air Force with the Reaper and the Army with the Gray Eagle, both upgraded versions of the Predator.
According to the report, General Atomics confirmed that it has aircraft ready to transfer immediately if approved to do so.
Ukraine has used less-sophisticated Turkish-made drones to destroy numerous Russian vehicles during the war.
The United States is already supply Ukraine with small Switchblade drones that can be armed with explosives and flown into targets, Stinger antiaircraft missiles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.