Posted on 11/23/2022 9:21:31 AM PST by Red Badger
The Biden administration has been hesitant to send the drone to Ukraine amid fears that sensitive technologies may end up in Russian hands.
What's happening: A group of 16 bipartisan senators, led by Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), is urging Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to answer a series of questions on transferring the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, since the armed drone is Ukraine’s “highest priority” military transfer request.
The Biden administration considered transferring the MQ-1C for the last several months across 24 assistance packages. During that time, Russia has started using Iranian TB-2 drones, and the technology is threatening to stall Ukraine’s momentum, Ernst and Manchin wrote in a Tuesday letter to Austin obtained by POLITICO.
“A Russian victory over Ukraine would significantly damage American security and prosperity, and enabling Ukraine’s preservation of its homeland remains a moral imperative and squarely within our national interests,” the letter says.
The debate: The Biden administration has been hesitant to send the drone to Ukraine due to fears that sensitive technologies aboard the aircraft may end up in Russian hands.
An electro-optical/infrared ball on the Gray Eagle provides real-time intelligence, targeting and tracking. The administration was also concerned that the drone and the instruments it carries would pose too many training and logistics challenges for the Ukrainian military.
But the senators note Russia is vulnerable to drone attacks against artillery formations and logistics hubs.
“The MQ-1C could erode Russia’s long-range fires advantage. Most importantly, armed UAS could find and attack Russian warships in the Black Sea, breaking its coercive blockade and alleviate dual pressures on the Ukrainian economy and global food prices,” the letter says.
The other signers: Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) also signed the letter.
General Atomics manufactures the MQ-1C, and most of the senators have a General Atomics presence in their states.
Action items: The letter requests Austin answer five questions by Nov. 30.
These include outlining operational advantages the MQ-1C would provide, how to mitigate conflict escalation, the technology transfer risks, whether the Pentagon considered General Atomics’ proposal of training the Ukrainians on the drone at no cost, and how the U.S. evaluated the survivability of the platform.
Not the first time: A bipartisan group of 17 House lawmakers demanded in September that the Pentagon speed up its months-long review of whether to supply Ukraine Gray Eagle drones.
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What is their position in the stock market?
BUY!......................
“Turning into?”
Truculent wench went straight to the dark side immediately after she frauded her way into office with the Tea Party.
….also added to the corrupted little beggar’s woes,
“ Russia also attacked some of the natural gas sources Ukraine has:
Russia last week broadened its targets. Oleksiy Chernyshov, chief executive of Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz, said in an interview that a “massive rocket attack” hit 10 gas production facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions, including Shebelinka, one the largest production and drilling areas.
“Of course, we will do our best now to recover, but this will take time and resources and material,” Chernyshov said. “Time is of the essence,” he added. “Because winter is now.”
The targeting of the gas supply was a critical development, said Victoria Voytsitska, a former member of parliament now working with civil society groups on getting Ukraine the equipment it needs. If Moscow takes out the gas system, she said, cities and villages across the country could become “uninhabitable.”
The Russian gas provider Gazprom has announced that it will reduce the transport of gas through Ukraine to European customers as the Ukraine is stealing from it:….”
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Once again illustrating what Europe has known , “ When shaking hand with a Ukrainian, be sure to check how many fingers he stole” ….the quicker electricity, gas, is shut off, the quicker negotiations will start….
She’s become a member of the club, https://www.iri.org/who-we-are/#h-board-of-directors
Hint; McCain was chair of the IRI for 25 years.
The border is a darn wreck thanks to Biden. Imagine the cost of all the healthcare, section 8a housing and food stamps for these invaders. I say invaders, because they invade border and the Demorat idiots will not do squat. This once great nation has gone to hell. Biden is the worse SOB ever pushed on us by fraud. Fraud is all politicians seem to know these days. Our military is full of obese types and sexual perverts. Sad as H-—.
We’ve got some senators who love war.
There can be only one motive for it.
The new weapons would go out with US military software as there is no time to write special software for Ukraine.
War Pigs....................
“Imagine the cost of all the healthcare, section 8a housing and food stamps for these invaders.”
And don’t forget the cost of pre-K to graduate school education for their ninos.
I’m all in Kemosabe.
I’m all in Kemosabe.
Because of all the vodka they drink and the potatoes they eat.
Nope. Mary Milley’s staying in DC.
It’s wise to always have a wingman.
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