Secret help: Phoenix Ghost loitering ammunition for Ukraine
Working with the Switchblade 300 complex. Probably, the application of the new Phoenix Ghost will be similar
The United States announced the preparation of another package of military-technical assistance for Ukraine. It includes artillery systems, vehicles, ammunition, etc. with a total cost of $ 800 million. Basically, we are talking about fairly old products, but there is also a curious novelty - Phoenix Ghost loitering ammunition. This product is first mentioned in public statements and open materials.
Unmanned Aid
The new aid package was approved on 21 April. It provides for the transfer of Phoenix Ghost tactical unmanned aerial vehicles in the amount of "more than 121 pieces." Curiously, this is the only new sample in the latest package. All other products will be taken from warehouses and from units of the US Army.
War Department spokesman John Kirby spoke about the new UAV and announced some details. In particular, he noted that the project was developed taking into account Ukrainian requirements. At the same time, the appearance of the product and the main characteristics are not disclosed for reasons of secrecy. It is assumed that such information may threaten the effective use of "Phoenix-Ghosts" by the Ukrainian army.
Later that day, J. Kirby named the company that developed the promising product and revealed some other details. At the same time, the organization that created the project has not yet commented on such messages.
Lightweight Switchblade 300 in flight configuration
Armament and ammunition included in the new package will be sent to Ukraine in the near future. The United States has already established channels for the supply of weapons, and the first batches can reach the recipient in the coming days. Which of these batches the Phoenix Ghosts will end up in is unknown. However, it can be expected that over the next days or weeks such weapon gets to the forefront.
According to known data
As reported, the development of the future Phoenix Ghost project was commissioned by the US Air Force and in accordance with their requirements. The contractor was the Californian company AEVEX Aerospace. This organization specializes in electronic equipment for aviation and repeatedly carried out orders from the Pentagon. At the same time, she has not previously been involved in the development of UAVs or similar systems.
It is not known when the work began. The novelty of the subject matter and the level of complexity suggests that AEVEX has been designing the drone since 2019-20. Thanks to this, development has been completed by now, tests have been carried out and production has been prepared. Whether the Air Force plans to order such UAVs is unknown.
According to J. Kirby, not so long ago it turned out that the loitering ammunition from AEVEX meets the needs and requirements of the Ukrainian army. In this regard, the product was recommended to the series for inclusion in the next assistance package. At the same time, he was given a new name, probably also taking into account the wishes of the recipient.
"Heavy" Switchblade 600
Technical secrets
The design of the promising Phoenix Ghost remains unknown. However, it is reported that in terms of combat capabilities, it is similar to AeroVironment's Switchblade series loitering ammunition, although there are some differences. Which of the two Switchblades the Ghost was compared to is unknown. The American side is in no hurry to disclose such information out of fear for the Ukrainian allies.
Apparently, the new Phoenix Ghost is a compact foldable UAV, suitable for carrying by crew or transportation by any means of transport. It should be equipped with an electric propulsion system, optoelectronic means for monitoring and searching for targets. In addition, a warhead with a high-explosive fragmentation or cumulative fragmentation charge is required. Takeoff can be carried out using a compact launcher, and landing is not provided.
The dimensions and weights of the Phoenix Ghost are unknown, and comparison with the Switchblades does not accurately determine them. So, Switchblade 300 has a length and wingspan of about 600 mm and a weight of less than 3 kg. The second member of the family, Switchblade 600, is several times larger and weighs 23 kg.
Such a difference in size and weight allows you to get a significant range of flight and combat characteristics. So, "Switchblade-300" is able to fly only 10 minutes and work at a distance of up to 10 km from the operator. The product "600" flight duration is twice as high, and the range reaches 40 km. A light UAV delivers a warhead weighing several hundred grams to the target, while an analog of the FGM-148 ATGM warhead was placed on a larger one.
Both Switchblade and, apparently, Phoenix Ghost are equipped with optical means to search for ground targets and then aim at them. The device must be controlled by the operator via radio channel in the presence of some automated functions.
Which of the two Switchblade looks more like a new American UAV is unknown. Accordingly, it is not clear what its tactical and technical characteristics may be. However, the mention of AeroVironment products shows the fundamental possibility of creating loitering ammunition with different levels of performance and capabilities.
New threat
In general, loitering ammunition, such as the already well-known Switchblade 300/600 or the new Phoenix Ghost, is a fairly convenient and flexible tool for searching and destroying ground targets. Accordingly, they pose a certain danger to the enemy. The appearance of such weapons in the Ukrainian army cannot be ignored - it must be taken into account and the necessary measures taken.
The appearance in Ukraine of light and, probably, massive loitering ammunition makes special demands on the work of our air defense and other means of protection. At the same time, the fight against such a threat is not fundamentally different from the interception of other light UAVs. Such targets can be detected by radar and optoelectronic means, as well as electronic intelligence systems. Electronic warfare systems can suppress control channels, disrupting an attack, and small-caliber artillery is the most effective means of destruction.
However, the fight against loitering ammunition has its own specifics. Like other percussion means, they require a quick and clear response. An error or miss will lead to a breakthrough of the defense and the defeat of the protected object. In the case of the Phoenix Ghost, this problem may be exacerbated by the fact that its exact characteristics and other features are still unknown and have yet to be determined.
However, the threat of the "Phoenix-Ghost" should not be overestimated either. The Ukrainian army is already trying to use other types of loitering ammunition and has not succeeded in this. The low level of training, the lack of necessary experience, the work of our air defense and other factors affect. In addition, some of these weapons could be destroyed at the stage of delivery to the line of contact - along with warehouses or vehicles. Probably soon there will be reports of captured UAVs.
Sudden help
Loitering ammunition has already demonstrated its potential as a flexible and convenient weapon for detecting and destroying ground targets. At the same time, the correct organization of defense allows you to neutralize all the advantages of such weapons - incl. the latest American Phoenix Ghost. Thus, even hiding characteristics and capabilities will not help the Ukrainian side to effectively use the new product.
However, the most interesting in the current situation is the fact that the United States suddenly revealed a previously unknown development, moreover, already ready for a series and for deliveries. While this is the first such "surprise", but it is impossible to say with certainty that it will be the last. The United States plans to continue sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine - and, as it turned out, they are ready to provide even the newest and most unknown samples.
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