Ukrainian long-range drones are effective and accurate weapons. Also, their advantage is low cost compared to rockets. US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin announced this at a briefing.
Points of attention
- Ukrainian long-range drones are being praised by the Pentagon for their effectiveness and accuracy, as well as their cost efficiency compared to traditional missiles.
- The ability to produce large batches of drones at lower costs gives Ukraine a strategic advantage on the battlefield.
- There are ongoing discussions between Ukraine and its allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range drones in strike operations against deep targets, including Russia.
- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin highlighted Ukraine's success in using long-range drones for strikes and emphasized Ukraine's capability to produce these weapons independently and at a rapid pace.
- Despite receiving support from the USA, Britain, and France, Ukrainian defenders are currently restricted from using long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russia, sparking negotiations to change this situation.
Long-range Ukrainian drones are an effective weapon — Austin
Austin noted that Ukraine has been using its long-range drones for strikes "with great success." In particular, Ukrainian defenders were recently able to attack warehouses with strategic-level ammunition, "which affected the battlefield."
Austin drew attention to the fact that Ukraine can produce such drones on its own, and also quickly expand production.
Drones have proven their effectiveness and accuracy. When you consider the fact that one precision guided missile costs in some cases close to a million dollars, and they can produce these drones in huge quantities for less. So if you look at the balance and the effect it creates on the battlefield, I think it has great potential.
Lloyd Austin
US Secretary of Defense
Austin also emphasized that how Ukraine will use this potential is up to Ukraine alone.
LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III and @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte brief the media following a @NATO defense ministerial meeting in Brussels. https://t.co/ybpzXgaz8O
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) October 18, 2024
Ban on strikes by the AFU with Western weapons deep into Russia
The USA, Britain and France provide Ukraine with long-range missiles that can hit targets at a distance of several hundred kilometers.
But Ukrainian defenders are limited in the use of such weapons — they cannot use them for strikes deep into Russia. Kyiv is actively discussing the lifting of such restrictions with London, Paris and Washington.
Recently, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, presented a victory plan, which, in particular, provides permission to strike deep into Russia with Western weapons. But the allies have not lifted the restrictions yet.
