Aevex Phoenix Ghost Explained

Aevex Phoenix Ghost
Type:Loitering munition
Origin:United States
Is Missile:Yes
Wars:2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Manufacturer:Aevex Aerospace
Vehicle Range:6+ hour flight duration
Guidance:Autonomous; manual

The Aevex Phoenix Ghost is a small aerial loitering munition (explosive drone) designed by American company Aevex Aerospace. According to a senior US defense official, it is broadly similar to the AeroVironment Switchblade.[1]

Capabilities

The 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.[2] It is effective against medium-armored ground targets. It has infrared sensors for night operations.[3]

History

In 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.[4] [5] It was later revealed that the Phoenix Ghost was a project under the Big Safari weapons program.[6]

After initially sending 120 in April, it was announced in July 2022 that another 580 Phoenix Ghosts would be delivered beginning the next month[7] [8] [9] 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.[10] A U.S. aid package announced in November 2022 included more than 1,100 Phoenix Ghosts.[11]

Operators

United States Air Force Ukraine
  • Armed Forces of Ukraine (at least 120 systems delivered by early May 2022; with training also underway by May 2022)[12] A further 1,100 were delivered as part of an aid package in early November. [13] [8]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Kyiv Asked for a New Kamikaze Drone to Fight Russia. The Air Force Delivered Phoenix Ghost . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . Defense One . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422054225/https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2022/04/kyiv-asked-new-kamikaze-drone-fight-russia-air-force-delivered-phoenix-ghost/365945/ . live .
    2. Pentagon: 'Phoenix Ghost' Drones Would Benefit Ukraine . 2022-04-21 . John Kirby . en . Bloomberg . 2:15 . 2022-04-21.
    3. Web site: Mystery drone: How the Air Force fast-tracked a new weapon for Ukraine . Lee . Hudson . Paul . McLeary . 21 April 2022 . 21 April 2022 . . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422054225/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/21/mystery-drone-air-force-new-weapon-ukraine-00026970?2 . live .
    4. Web site: Parsons . Dan . 2022-04-21 . Mysterious 'Phoenix Ghost' Suicide Drones Headed to Ukraine . 2022-04-21 . The Drive . en . 21 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421220518/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/mysterious-ghost-phoenix-suicide-drones-headed-to-ukraine . live .
    5. JackDetsch . 1517238372175122434 . 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. . Detsch . Jack.
    6. Web site: New Phoenix Ghost drone was 'Big Safari' project. Jon. Harper. 6 May 2022. 7 May 2022. FedScoop.
    7. https://news.yahoo.com/4-himars-580-phoenix-ghost-180646546.html 4 HIMARS and 580 Phoenix Ghost drones the USA has allocated a new military aid package for Ukraine
    8. Web site: More HIMARS, Phoenix Ghost Drones Bound for Ukraine. Lopez. Todd. 25 July 2022. United States Department of Defense. 22 November 2022.
    9. https://insidedefense.com/insider/dod-send-ukraine-580-phoenix-ghost-drones DOD to send Ukraine 580 'Phoenix Ghost' drones
    10. Web site: Russian Troops Deserting Posts As Kyiv Makes Use of U.S. Weapons: Pentagon . Jack . Dutton . July 26, 2022 . . "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.".
    11. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2022/11/04/us-netherlands-go-dutch-to-refurbish-czech-tanks-for-ukraine/ US, Netherlands go Dutch to refurbish Czech tanks for Ukraine
    12. News: What is Phoenix Ghost, the secretive loitering munition the Pentagon is sending to Ukraine? . Hauptman. Max . Task & Purpose . 2 May 2022 . 29 July 2022.
    13. Web site: Specifically 'Made For Ukraine', US Announces Phoenix Ghost Drones For Kyiv Besides Other Key Weapons. 4 November 2022. EurAsian Times.

    This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aevex Phoenix Ghost".

    Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.