US forces in Saudi base introduce Ukrainian technology to counter Iranian drone attacks
The US military has deployed the battle-tested Ukrainian 'Sky Map' anti-drone system at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia to counter Iranian drones, highlighting gaps in US air defenses.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 10:22
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:31 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 11:58 (1h 26m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA, Washington, 22nd, Composite Foreign Report) According to Reuters, citing five people familiar with the matter, the US military has introduced Ukrainian anti-drone technology at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Iranian drones and missiles have caused damage to buildings and aircraft in the Middle East, resulting in the death of at least one military staff member.
Analysts point out that Prince Sultan Air Base, located about 640 kilometers from Iran, has faced multiple rounds of drone and missile attacks since the outbreak of the Iran war; the US adoption of Ukrainian technology this time highlights the vulnerabilities of the US military in air and missile defense.
This Ukrainian counter-drone and missile platform, named "Sky Map", was revealed for the first time to be deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base, indicating that Ukraine has made significant progress in anti-drone technology, which has been combat-proven during the four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian military widely uses "Sky Map" to detect incoming drones, including the Iran-developed "Shahed" drones, allowing for interception and counterattacks.
Sources said that Ukrainian military officials recently traveled to the Saudi base to train US forces on operating the "Sky Map" platform.
In the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia effectively utilized mass-produced, cheap drones to achieve combat results; consequently, the US Pentagon has expanded its investment in counter-drone technology.
Timothy Walton, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, stated: "For a long time, it has been well known that the US military has gaps in its global missile defense coverage, but this has remained unaddressed."
Notably, US President Donald Trump publicly rejected a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just last month, where Ukraine offered to help the US counter Iranian drone attacks.
During an interview with Fox News on March 6, Trump stated: "We do not need their help with drone defense." Now, it appears the US Department of Defense has changed its course.
When asked for comment by Reuters, the White House and the Pentagon referred the questions to US Central Command, which oversees Prince Sultan Air Base, but Central Command declined to comment.
The developer of "Sky Map", the Ukrainian company "Sky Fortress", also declined to respond; Zelenskyy's office did not reply. (Translated by: Ji Jinling) 1150423
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(CNA, Washington, 22nd, Composite Foreign Report) According to Reuters, citing five people familiar with the matter, the US military has introduced Ukrainian anti-drone technology at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks.
Iranian drones and missiles have caused damage to buildings and aircraft in the Middle East, resulting in the death of at least one military staff member.
Analysts point out that Prince Sultan Air Base, located about 640 kilometers from Iran, has faced multiple rounds of drone and missile attacks since the outbreak of the Iran war; the US adoption of Ukrainian technology this time highlights the vulnerabilities of the US military in air and missile defense.
This Ukrainian counter-drone and missile platform, named "Sky Map", was revealed for the first time to be deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base, indicating that Ukraine has made significant progress in anti-drone technology, which has been combat-proven during the four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian military widely uses "Sky Map" to detect incoming drones, including the Iran-developed "Shahed" drones, allowing for interception and counterattacks.
Sources said that Ukrainian military officials recently traveled to the Saudi base to train US forces on operating the "Sky Map" platform.
In the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia effectively utilized mass-produced, cheap drones to achieve combat results; consequently, the US Pentagon has expanded its investment in counter-drone technology.
Timothy Walton, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington think tank, stated: "For a long time, it has been well known that the US military has gaps in its global missile defense coverage, but this has remained unaddressed."
Notably, US President Donald Trump publicly rejected a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy just last month, where Ukraine offered to help the US counter Iranian drone attacks.
During an interview with Fox News on March 6, Trump stated: "We do not need their help with drone defense." Now, it appears the US Department of Defense has changed its course.
When asked for comment by Reuters, the White House and the Pentagon referred the questions to US Central Command, which oversees Prince Sultan Air Base, but Central Command declined to comment.
The developer of "Sky Map", the Ukrainian company "Sky Fortress", also declined to respond; Zelenskyy's office did not reply. (Translated by: Ji Jinling) 1150423
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.