U.S. Army Tests Ukrainian Long-Range Attack Drones

The U.S. Army has conducted tests of Ukrainian long-range attack drones that have been deployed in strikes against Russia, according to a report by The War Zone, citing the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit.

As part of the Artemis project, aimed at developing advanced strike drones, the U.S. military tested an unspecified type of Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The details regarding Ukrainian companies involved in these trials remain undisclosed.

However, reports indicate that these firms have been positioning their technology in collaboration with U.S. defense companies Auterion and Swan, both of which are directly engaged in the Artemis initiative.

One of the key requirements for these UAVs is a high level of resilience against electronic warfare (EW) systems, cost-effectiveness for mass deployment, and an operational range of approximately 300 km. According to the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit, around 165 proposals were reviewed from various companies, with a significant portion undergoing field trials.

The next phase of the Artemis project will focus on the development of prototypes that align with specific technical requirements, with completion expected by the end of 2025.

While the full scope of the project remains classified, available information suggests that Artemis is designed to integrate ground-based, easily deployable UAV platforms with one-way launch capabilities.

These drones are expected to operate at distances ranging from 50 km to over 300 km, with the ability to navigate at low altitudes, carry diverse payloads, undergo rapid upgrades, and function effectively in contested environments with electronic disruptions and limited bandwidth. The systems are also being designed to operate without reliance on global satellite navigation.

Additionally, the platform is expected to support various mission types, including reconnaissance and electronic warfare operations, potentially serving as decoys to exhaust enemy air defense systems. The flexibility in payload configurations could allow for integration of different targeting systems, expanding operational versatility.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is turning to Ukraine’s battle-proven drone technology as U.S. startups struggle to meet battlefield demands. Despite significant investment, American drones have failed in electronic warfare environments, while Ukrainian manufacturers have rapidly refined and mass-produced effective UAVs.

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded contracts to U.S.-Ukrainian partnerships to test long-range attack drones, with the Ukrainian company Skyfall becoming the first approved supplier for the U.S. military.