The Aevex Phoenix Ghost is a family of aerial loitering munitions (explosive drones) designed by American company Aevex Aerospace. According to a senior US defense official, initial versions were broadly similar to the AeroVironment Switchblade,[1] but later designs were larger and more capable.[2]
| Aevex Phoenix Ghost | |
|---|---|
| Type | Loitering munition |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Wars | 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Aevex Aerospace |
| Specifications | |
Operational range | 6+ hour flight duration |
Guidance system | Autonomous; manual |
Capabilities
editThe Phoenix Ghost's primary purpose is to deliver an explosive munition to a human-selected target. The drone can loiter over an area for up to six hours, and can conduct surveillance.[3][4] It is effective against medium-armored ground targets. It has infrared sensors for night operations.[4]
In October 2024, Aevex revealed that Phoenix Ghost wasn't a single drone, but an effort that produced several designs of different sizes and configurations. Examples include:[2]
- Atlas, a Group 2 drone weighing 20.9 lb (9.5 kg) including an 8.1 lb (3.7 kg) payload with endurance of 1-2 hours and range of 74 mi (120 km).
- Disruptor, a Group 3 drone with a v-tail 10.1 ft (3.1 m) in length weighing 185 lb (84 kg) or more with a 50 lb (23 kg) payload, endurance of 4.5 hours and range of 372 mi (598 km), launched pneumatically or through RATO.
- Dominator, a Group 3 drone similar in size and launching method to Disruptor but in a twin-boom configuration, weighing 205 lb (93 kg) or more and having endurance of 4.6 hours and range of 293 mi (492 km).
History
editIn April 2022, the United States Department of Defense stated that the Phoenix Ghost was developed before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and that it was a "close match" for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the battle of Donbas.[5][6] It was later revealed that the Phoenix Ghost was a project under the Big Safari weapons program.[7]
After initially sending 120 in April, it was announced in July 2022 that another 580 Phoenix Ghosts would be delivered beginning the next month[8][9][10] as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The Phoenix Ghost weapons were being provided to Ukraine via a new procurement by the United States, unlike the other weapons the US has provided to Ukraine in the early months following the invasion in February 2022.[11] A U.S. aid package announced in November 2022 included more than 1,100 Phoenix Ghosts.[12]
At the height of deliveries, Aevex was shipping 230 loitering munitions to Ukraine each month. By June 2024, the company had delivered 4,000 drones under U.S. military contracts, 1,800 of which were pledged to Ukraine.[2]
Operators
editUkraine
- Armed Forces of Ukraine (at least 120 systems delivered by early May 2022; with training also underway by May 2022)[13] A further 1,100 were delivered as part of an aid package in early November. [14][9]
References
edit- ^ "Kyiv Asked for a New Kamikaze Drone to Fight Russia. The Air Force Delivered Phoenix Ghost". Defense One. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Secretive Phoenix Ghost Kamikaze Drones Rushed To Ukraine Finally Come Out Of The Shadows. The War Zone. 17 October 2024.
- ^ John Kirby (21 April 2022). Pentagon: 'Phoenix Ghost' Drones Would Benefit Ukraine. Bloomberg. Event occurs at 2:15. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ a b Hudson, Lee; McLeary, Paul (21 April 2022). "Mystery drone: How the Air Force fast-tracked a new weapon for Ukraine". Politico. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ Parsons, Dan (21 April 2022). "Mysterious 'Phoenix Ghost' Suicide Drones Headed to Ukraine". The Drive. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ Detsch, Jack [@JackDetsch] (21 April 2022). "Important clarification: U.S. Phoenix Ghost tactical drone that will be provided to Ukraine was in development BEFORE Russia's invasion: Pentagon
This is a change from what a senior US defense official pointed out earlier, suggesting it was developed FOR Ukraine to fight Russia" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 April 2022 – via Twitter. - ^ Harper, Jon (6 May 2022). "New Phoenix Ghost drone was 'Big Safari' project". FedScoop. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ 4 HIMARS and 580 Phoenix Ghost drones the USA has allocated a new military aid package for Ukraine. Yahoo News. 22 July 2022.
- ^ a b Lopez, Todd (25 July 2022). "More HIMARS, Phoenix Ghost Drones Bound for Ukraine". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ DOD to send Ukraine 580 'Phoenix Ghost' drones. Inside Defense. 22 July 2022.
- ^ Dutton, Jack (26 July 2022). "Russian Troops Deserting Posts As Kyiv Makes Use of U.S. Weapons: Pentagon". Newsweek / MSN.
The Ukrainians have been making excellent use of the Phoenix Ghost system," a senior defense official, who was also unnamed, said in the statement released by the Pentagon on Monday. "This action allows us to go out and procure from industry additional capability. That's where USAI is different from drawdown—this is actually a procurement action. And with the Phoenix Ghost system, what we'll be able to do is ensure steady deliveries of this capability starting in August to ensure that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have a continual supply of this capability.
- ^ US, Netherlands go Dutch to refurbish Czech tanks for Ukraine. Defense News. 4 November 2022.
- ^ Hauptman, Max (2 May 2022). "What is Phoenix Ghost, the secretive loitering munition the Pentagon is sending to Ukraine?". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Specifically 'Made For Ukraine', US Announces Phoenix Ghost Drones For Kyiv Besides Other Key Weapons". EurAsian Times. 4 November 2022.
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