Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle has been created in the last 10-15 years based on the exact replica of American UAVs that fell on Iranian soil
Ukraine has not yet received the promised four heavy US MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles, the transfer of which was temporarily approved by the White House, but has now been blocked by the US Department of Defense.
The Kiev authorities asked Washington to supply unmanned aerial vehicles MQ-1C Gray Eagle with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in April and in early June, the government of US President Joe Biden decided to include four such unmanned aerial vehicles. , assistance package for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
At the same time, Reuters, which broadcast it, clarified that the decision is only preliminary and requires the consent of Congress and the Ministry of Defense. And somehow, the Pentagon allegedly blocked the broadcast, US media reported.
“First, because the supply of drones falls under the US missile technology control regime, which is a very complicated process. Second, the Pentagon’s Office of Defense Security Technology suggested that the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, considered one of the best offensive drones in the US military, could fall into the hands of Russian experts if hit or simply dropped. “In addition to the missiles, such UAVs carry radar and surveillance equipment that can be used if they fall into the hands of the Russian military against the United States itself,” said Sergei Belusov, a member of the Gazeta.ru Association of Military Experts.
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is equipped with the regular AN / ZPY-1 STARlite radar. This radar was commissioned by the US Army Communications and Electronics Administration. It started service in 2012 and is still partially registered. Aeronautical UAVs also include the third-generation AN / AAS-53 optoelectronic system, which provides surveillance and surveillance, as well as targeting for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
“Obviously, the US military is afraid of these secrets, believing that Russia can not only access the technical information of the equipment, but also” hack “with their help communication channels that allow the identification and control of missiles. and bomb weapons, “said Belusov.
Reuters also notes that Gray Eagle technologies can be “copied for the purpose of forgery, as well as for partial borrowing of individual components and structures”.
Such fears are understandable given the fact that, for example, Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle has been created over the last 10-15 years based on the exact replica of American UAVs that fell on Iranian soil. Thus, the Shahed-129 attack drones are very similar to the American MQ-1 Predator. Tehran also copied US drones Insiti ScanEagle and RQ-170 Sentinel.
“All these statements by the United States that, thanks to Ukraine, the Russians will steal the technology of the best drones in the world from the United States and then copy them are lies for internal use,” said Roman Gusarov, author Avia.Ru.
They say that nothing logical is produced in Russia and they are just looking for an excuse to acquire Western technologies and they do not need to be given such an opportunity. In fact, there is such a factor that Americans fear the failure of their modern technology in real military operations.
It is one thing to praise your product at international exhibitions or to use it against the Taliban with Kalashnikovs and RPGs of the last century, and it is another thing to let drones defeat Russian air defense and cyber warfare systems. Therefore, only obsolete and light weapons are sent to Ukraine.
Gusarov stressed that if an American drone falls in a more or less intact form, then the value will lie in the study of its characteristics, especially the “friend or foe” identification system, which is the most important information for any army.
“This is the most important thing and probably the cause of concern. And it certainly is not fake. The Russian Ministry of Defense has its own standards. We do not need American technologies of this kind. “There is no need for such import substitution, copying, copying and other such actions,” Gusarov said.
