US firm offers drones to Ukraine for just $1

WaShiNgtON: A leading US maker of advanced military surveillance drones is willing to sell two to Ukraine for just $1, and called on the US government to approve the deal.

General Atomic Aeronautical Systems said it had been urging Washington for months to provide Ukraine its powerful Grey Eagle and Reaper drones, which US forces have used to great effect in surveillance and targeted attacks over Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones.

It said the drones, which can fly long distances at midaltitudes, are one of the most obvious, force-enhancing technologies that Ukraine needs in its war against Russian forces.

The US military has provided Ukraine with a number of small attack and surveillance drones, but nothing with the advanced technologies and long-range abilities like General Atomic’s unmanned aircraft.

“From the outset of the Russian invasion, we began looking for options to respond to the requests of Ukrainian forces with our products, including the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle,” General Atomics chief executive Linden Blue said in a statement.

He said the company had offered to train Ukrainian operators at no cost to the US or Ukrainian governments. And the company was ready to hand over two of its own training aircraft, along with a ground control station and other hardware, for $1.

Ukraine, or someone else, would have to pay for outfitting and transferring the aircraft and setting up the operation, he said.

“The offer is a remarkable deal with no strings attached,” Mr Blue said.