Ukraine has been using various types of smaller-scale unmanned aerial systems against Russian forces that invaded the country in late February. They include the AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma AE and the Turkish Bayraktar-TB2.
However, the gray eagle represents a technological leap. It can fly for up to 30 hours, depending on its mission, and can collect large amounts of data for intelligence purposes.
Gray Eagles, the U.S. Army version of the best-known Predator drone, can also carry up to eight powerful Hellfire missiles.
The sale is significant because it puts for the first time an advanced reusable American system capable of multiple deep attacks on the battlefield against Russia.
The United States and the United Kingdom have previously provided Switchblade drones, also known as “Kamikaze drones”, because they explode on impact and cannot be reused. The West has also sent a large number of aircraft spare parts, instead of entire aircraft ready for battle.