Exclusive: U.S. dismissed Ukraine deal for anti-Iran drone tech last year

"If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it. Ukraine is the world's most experienced country in combating Shaheds, which Russia has bought, reproduced and labeled as Geran drones by the thousands for its invasion of its western neighbor. Ukraine has developed a low-cost interceptor drone, among other sensors and air defenses, to shoot down Shahed-style drones."

"The Ukrainians made a PowerPoint presentation to U.S. officials that displayed a map of the Middle East and had this prophetic warning: Iran is improving its Shahed one-way-attack drone design. The presentation included the idea of creating drone combat hubs in Turkey, Jordan and the Persian Gulf states, where U.S. bases are located, to address the threat from Iran and its proxies."

"At that meeting in August, Trump asked his team to work on it, but they have done nothing. A U.S. official who saw the PowerPoint confirmed that Zelensky's team showed the presentation to the administration and theorized the Ukrainian leader is seen by some in the Trump administration as too much of a self-promoter of a client state that doesn't command enough respect."

Iran's inexpensive Shahed drones have killed seven U.S. service members and cost millions to intercept. Ukraine, experienced in combating these drones used by Russia, developed low-cost interceptor technology and presented it to the Trump administration in August. The Ukrainian proposal included creating drone combat hubs in Turkey, Jordan, and Persian Gulf states to address threats from Iran and its proxies. The presentation warned that Iran continues improving Shahed drone designs. However, despite Trump initially requesting his team to work on the proposal, no action was taken. U.S. officials dismissed the offer, viewing Zelensky as a self-promoting client state leader lacking sufficient respect.

Read at Axios