Ukraine Hope: Attack Drones!

Everything at least from the Trump administration seems to be unravelling for Vlodymir Zelenskyy. Trump showed the Ukrainian leader the door after a fallout between the two. Consequently, Zelenskyy flew into the UK for talks with Keir Starmer and other European leaders. All European leaders said they would continue to back Ukraine. Sir Keir Starmer believes that US support, whether for peace or militarily, is essential!

Trump himself has not ruled out talking to Zelenskyy again. However, Trump thinks Zelenskyy must change his attitude. Perhaps Mr. Trump needs to look at himself, before judging others. That said, Trump said "The door is still open on "peace talks". J D Vance said signing the minerals deal was the key to peace. Trump is a businessman, and with Trump's venture into politics, this business mindset will not change. Trump thinks the American military help for Ukraine past, present, and future, is conditional.

For America's help, Trump has identified that the US needs Ukraine's rare earth minerals. So until Zelenskyy can bring himself to sign that deal, Trump will not be talking to Zelenskyy any time soon.

To back this up, Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine. So Zelenskyy will be depending on his European backers even more. Europe can fill the gap to a certain extent. However, filling the US shoes will be a hard call for Europe.

Since the war started, Ukraine has become self-sufficient in some respects with armaments. One weapon it has used to good effect is drones. Drone production in Ukraine has stepped up in manufacturing. Russia itself has used drones, many of them supplied by Iran, to devastating effect on Ukraine.

A Ukrainian commander has told Sky News these drones are hampering the Russian war effort. The commander said drones have been used against Russian targets. Targets, whether in Russia or Russian captured territory, have been hit. By the commander's own account, Russia is finding this a headache. Drones are doing untold damage to Russian armaments, fuel depots, command structures, headquarters, supply lines, etc.

The drone has become the weapon of choice when facing a stronger enemy. Like Iran, though Iran has an air force, many of its planes have become museum pieces. Iran operates an air force of aircraft supplied to the Shah by the US. One of these planes that was a game changer in its day, is the F- 14 Tomcat. The fighter is still operational in the Iranian Air Force. It has received an upgrade in modern technology, radars, missiles, etc. Iran also has captured Iraqi Mig-29s, Mirages, and others. Iran has also purchased or will be purchasing highly effective Russian fighters. Iran has also produced fighter aircraft. They tend to be backengineered copies of already existing fighter aircraft of American origin in the IRAF (Islamic Republic Air Force).

Could this mismatch of fighters be a threat to Israeli, American, and Saudi Arabian aircraft, yes to a point. However, if these planes come up against the latest US fighters used by the US itself or its Allies, the Iranians would be outgunned and outclassed (in most circumstances). Hence Iran relying on missiles and more importantly what we are discussing in this article, drones!

Similarly, drones and missiles are the weapons doing the fighting for Ukraine. Ukraine has an effective air force, but not as many as Russia. No doubt, in dogfights with Russian aircraft, Ukrainian fighter pilots have downed Russian enemies. I'm sure the atmosphere is much like when the RAF fought the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. But given Russia's greater frequency of aircraft, drones and missiles have become the automatic (literally automatic) air force of Ukraine.

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