The White House said Monday it believes Iran is providing Russia with “hundreds” of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including armed drones, to use in its invasion of Ukraine. The new information came as fighting between the two Eastern European countries has now lasted about four and a half months – and ahead of President Joe Biden’s planned trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. “Our intelligence indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred UAVs, including weapons-capable UAVs on an accelerated schedule,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, according to the Associated Press. He added that Iran’s support is indicative that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine “come at a cost to maintaining its own weapons.” But the United States has recently developed technology in its arsenal that will be able to neutralize drones. Iran gives the Russian military armed drones, but the US military has a system capable of detecting the weapons. Above, members of the Russian military are seen in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 17, 2020. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images According to a February report by The Defense Post, engineers at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) have developed a defense system that provides gunners of low-altitude air defense battalions with enhanced capabilities to detect, identify and neutralize weapons — including unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones . The system, known as the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, is equipped with a 360-degree radar, Stinger missiles, heavy weapons and multi-functional electronic warfare to combat drones, The Defense Post added. It was scheduled to undergo further testing and evaluation this year. Ryan Price, NIWC Atlantic’s land systems integration officer, said the system provides the military with a “much-needed advantage,” according to The Defense Post.
Russian strikes continue
As the United States learned that Iran was giving Russia drones to use in the conflict, Russia continued to carry out airstrikes against Ukraine that have killed civilians in recent days. On Monday, Russian shelling hit Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, killing three people and injuring 31 others, according to Reuters. It followed an attack on the eastern town of Chasiv Yar that killed 35 people. Putin launched the “special military operation” in Ukraine at the end of February. He claimed that the reason for the war is the “liberation” of the eastern separatist region of Donbass. He also tried to justify the war by claiming that Nazis run the Ukrainian government, even though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish.
Iran will be discussed during Biden’s trip to the Middle East
The revelation that Iran is giving armed drones to Russia came the same week that Biden announced plans to make his first trip to the Middle East as president. He plans to visit both Israel and Saudi Arabia, two countries that have seen strained relations in recent years. Iran’s drone gift also puts it at odds with the United States, which, along with other Western nations, has supported Ukraine amid the conflict, sending its military weapons and imposing sanctions against Russia. Experts predict the Iran nuclear deal and other activities will be a major topic of discussion between Biden and Middle East leaders during his trip as nuclear negotiations with Iran continue to stall. Meanwhile, Putin is due to visit Iran next week. Newsweek has reached out to the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic for comment.
