US officials say the American military has recently begun implementing a Ukrainian command-and-control system known as “Sky Map” at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, aimed at countering drone and missile threats.
The system is designed to detect incoming drones—including Iranian Shahed models—and direct interceptor drones to neutralize them. According to the report, Ukrainian military personnel have arrived at the base in recent weeks to train US forces in operating the system.
The move follows a series of attacks that damaged aircraft and infrastructure at US bases in the region, highlighting gaps in American air defense against low-cost drone threats. Notably, while the US president reportedly rejected a broader Ukrainian proposal for drone defense cooperation, Ukrainian technology is already being deployed operationally on the ground.
NEWSRAEL: WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
This development underscores how the growing threat of cheap, mass-produced drones—especially those used by Iran and its proxies—is reshaping modern warfare.