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Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images
- A Ukrainian drone commander asserts that his unit could execute 5,000 lethal strikes with an investment of $100 million, according to The Atlantic.
- This translates to approximately $20,000 spent per Russian casualty over the course of a year, based on the commander’s calculations.
- This serves as his rationale for why Western nations should continue their support for Ukraine.
A commander from Ukraine’s drone unit is aiming to convince the United States to maintain its aid to Kyiv by illustrating how economically advantageous supporting the war effort can be for Western countries, as reported by The Atlantic.
In a recent article published on Monday by Karl Marlantes and Elliot Ackerman in The Atlantic, they detailed how this commander from the 92nd Assault Brigade presented slides demonstrating the costs associated with loitering munitions utilized by his team.
The key insight was that each $20,000 invested in his unit could potentially result in one kill against Russian forces. This calculation highlights an effective strategy for resource allocation during wartime operations.
The math is straightforward: according to The Atlantic’s report on this presentation, a drone unit funded with $100 million could remain active on the battlefield for an entire year while conducting up to 5,000 lethal strikes against enemy targets.
The commander—known informally as “Achilles”—argued that such low operational costs would be beneficial for Western leaders who are keen on containing Russia and mitigating threats posed by China and Iran simultaneously.
For comparison purposes, it’s worth noting that producing one unguided 155mm artillery shell costs around $3,000. In contrast, GPS-guided shells—which are among those supplied to Ukraine—can reach prices of up to $100,000 each based on government data released regarding weapon expenditures from last year.
The Switchblade drone used by U.S. military forces has an estimated cost of about $58,000 per unit; however defense analyst David Hambling suggests its actual expense may approach $80,000 when accounting for training and additional components required for operation.
“Achilles” hopes that presenting these figures will inspire U.S. leaders to recognize that increased support for Ukraine is not only strategically sound but also financially prudent.
Operating out of Kharkiv—as indicated through his Telegram channel—the commander shares footage showcasing his drones targeting Russian military assets and personnel effectively throughout ongoing engagements.
Ukraine has consistently emphasized its dependence on Western assistance in defending itself against Russia while asserting that significantly more resources are necessary if they aim to secure victory in this protracted conflict.
However concerns linger regarding whether Washington’s supply of equipment will endure as hostilities persist and political resolve within Capitol Hill appears uncertain. President Joe Biden recently signed an executive agreement pledging support for Ukraine over ten years; nevertheless such commitments can easily be rescinded by future administrations if political dynamics shift dramatically.
< p >According t o t h e Kiel Institute f o r t h e World Economy , aid directed toward Ukra ine dropped t o i ts lowest point since hostilities began i n December 2023 . However , several packages totaling at least $16 billion have been announced subsequently b y t h e Biden administration .< / p >
< p >In February , then-military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi urged a shift away from reliance upon foreign assistance towards developing affordable domestic drones instead .< / p >
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< figcaption > Both sides have ramped up their use of first-person view (FPV) drones as loitering munitions; both companies and volunteer groups are mass-producing these devices f or combat applications.< / figcaption >
< p >“We must prepare ourselves f or diminished military backing from crucial allies who face their own internal challenges,” wrote Zaluzhnyi at a time when rumors circulated about potential dismissal—a change which occurred shortly thereafter when Oleksandr Syrskyi took over.< / p >
< p >Meanwhile , Kyiv continues efforts aimed at bridging gaps left behind through bolstering local defense manufacturing capabilities including production lines dedicated specifically toward missiles , artillery systems , along with various types o f unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). < / p >
< p >The focus remains firmly placed upon quantity rather than quality within these manufacturing endeavors ; Oleksandr Kamyshin—the Minister responsible fo r strategic industries —shared insights indicating this priority during discussions w ith Business Insider earlier th is summer .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced recently tha t th e nation now possesses capacity capable enough produce four million UAVs annually.< / p >
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