The latest request from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for weapons includes the latest THAAD air defense system, F-18 fighter jets and Apache helicopters.
Ukraine has requested new types of weapons from the United States, including F-18 Hornet fighter jets, Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopters and drones. According to Reuters, employees of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense presented a “list of weapons to meet the needs” of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at a closed meeting in Washington, which was attended by officials and leaders of the defense industry of US.
Wish List
Agency sources who reviewed the Ukrainian list include weapons Kiev already has, including Abrams tanks and 155mm artillery, as well as F-16 aircraft, drones and long-range ATACMS missiles.
However, there are several new items on the list, including C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Super Hercules transport aircraft, Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopters.
The document also states that Ukraine is asking Washington for F-18 fighters, three types of drones made by General Atomics, including the MQ-9B Sky Guardian and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system.
Latest THAAD
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a mobile, transportable ground-based missile defense system. It is the best ballistic interception system in its class, as it can eliminate missiles at ranges of up to 200 km and at heights of up to 150 km.
The THAAD battery consists of four main components: interceptor missiles, launch vehicle, AN/TPY-2 radar and fire control and communication system. A typical system consists of nine launchers, each with up to eight interceptor missiles. It contains two fire and communication systems and a ground-based X-ray radar.
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During development, THAAD achieved a 100 percent mission success rate in the last 14 research and operational tests, including a 13 to 13 successful interception rate.
Grozny F-18
The F-18 Hornet (US name F/A-18 Hornet) is a powerful fighter aircraft thanks to its advanced avionics, weapons system, aerodynamic design and stealth characteristics. It is the primary fighter aircraft used by the United States Navy and the American Marine Corps.
It is known for its advanced capabilities and versatility, making it the ideal aircraft for a wide range of missions, including air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strike, reconnaissance and electronic warfare.
In a basic comparison, the F-16 and F-18 are very similar. But aviation expert, leading researcher at the National Aviation University (NAU) Valery Romanenko noted that the F-18 is a carrier-based fighter and has a more stable design.
“It has a stronger chassis, and now it can operate from our airports without the need for serious changes to the runways and taxiways. It is not afraid of strong impacts and vibrations during landing,” he said for in RBC-Ukraine.
transport aircraft
The C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Super Hercules are strategic military transport aircraft. They are designed for landing troops or evacuating military personnel.
The C-17 Globemaster is manufactured by the American company McDonnell Douglas. Developed in the 1980s – early 1990s. The aircraft is in service with the Air Forces of the USA, Australia, Qatar, UAE, Canada, Great Britain, India and Kuwait. The C-17 Globemaster has a payload capacity of more than 71 thousand kg and a top speed of up to 930 km/h.
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The C-130 Super Hercules is an aircraft developed by Lockheed in the early 1950s. In 2015, more than 2.5 thousand aircraft of more than 60 modifications were produced. The Hercules is the centerpiece of the American mobile air strike force concept. The aircraft is used for large-scale transportation of troops and equipment and is actively used in various military conflicts. Unlike its closest analogs – the An-12 and Transall C-160, the aircraft continues to be mass-produced and continues to be in demand on the global market.
Apache and Black Hawk helicopters
The Apache is an American primary attack helicopter in service with the US Army since the mid-1980s. It is officially known that the Pentagon has up to 740 of these helicopters of various versions. As of 2018, the US military has no plans to replace the Apache with newer helicopters. It is likely that their service life will be extended and they will remain in service until 2040.
The American tactical multi-purpose helicopter Black Hawk is already in service in Ukraine. This helicopter is used by the soldiers of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
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MQ-9B Sky Guardian drone
The MQ-9B Sky Guardian is a reconnaissance drone developed by General Atomics. This mid-altitude UAV has a long flight endurance, which is very good for reconnaissance missions. In particular, it can perform missions at an altitude of more than 12 kilometers, and stay in the air for more than 40 hours.
The first flight of Sky Guardian took place on March 30, 2020. In general, the drone can operate in any weather because it has an anti-icing system and lightning protection.
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The Pentagon actively uses this drone for reconnaissance, including over the Black Sea.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.