It has become known that the U.S. military at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia has been rapidly deploying Ukrainian systems and training personnel to operate them in recent weeks. This rush began after $1.3 billion worth of rare equipment was lost at the airbase during Operation Epic Fury due to strikes by Iranian drones and ballistic missiles.
This refers to the Sky Map command and control system developed by the Ukrainian company Sky Fortress, which is already being actively used in Ukraine to repel attacks by russian drones. This was reported by Reuters.
Read more: More Than 40 Mirage Aircraft Could Go to Ukraine as France Pushes Deal With Greece
From Defense Express we would like to note that the Sky Map system integrates data on air targets from various types of detection systems, ranging from radars to acoustic sensors. All of this provides clear tracking data on airborne targets, which can be displayed on a tablet.
Such a system is essential for the coordination of mobile fire groups, interceptor drone operators, and other air defense units involved in countering unmanned aerial vehicles.
At this airbase, where the Sky Map system has been deployed, the U.S. Army is already operating interceptor drones, including the Merops, developed under Project Eagle, which involved former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
This Merops interceptor drone has already proven itself in Ukraine. It has shot down over 1,000 Shaheds, and is now being purchased not only the U.S., but also Poland and Romania.
In Ukraine, the Sky Map system integrates data from multiple detection sources and supports the operations of mobile fire groups, interceptor drone operators, and other units.
In addition, Sky Fortress has deployed a vast network of over 14,000 acoustic sensors across Ukraine, enabling the detection of russian drones even at low altitudes where they cannot be detected by radars.
The cost of a single acoustic sensor ranges from $400 to $1,000. The sensor detects the characteristic sound of a drone and determines its direction of approach. Using triangulation with other sensors, the system then pinpoints the drone's exact location.
It is currently unknown whether similar acoustic sensors have been deployed at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Sky Fortress is not currently commenting on the delivery of its systems to the U.S. military in the Middle East, so we can only wait for more detailed official information.
From the Defense Express side, we urges you to join a fundraising for what is already working: One United Fundraiser: Fundraising by the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation for interceptor drones.
Read more: Ukraine Prepares to Join Hormuz Demining Mission With Two Naval Vessels
