To begin with, let's briefly recall what this is all about. Back in May 2022, the United States promised to provide so-called Phoenix Ghost loitering munitions as military aid to Ukraine. This kamikaze drone had never been heard of before, and it was designed specifically to meet Ukraine's needs on the battlefield against the russian invasion forces. There was nothing known about Phoenix Ghost, neither system specifications nor even its appearance.
A few months later, in July 2022, the Pentagon assessed the performance of Phoenix Ghost drones on the Ukrainian frontlines as successful, yet still, any details about this product were confidential. The US committed to supply another 1,000 drones in the November 2022 aid package, and ever since, the subject has faded from public attention.
Read more: Ukrainian Kamikaze Drone Destroys russia’s Most Advanced T-90M Tank (Video)
However, after almost two years of silence, The War Zone lifts the veil of mystery around the Phoenix Ghost drones, as the manufacturer has finally received a "specific permission" to disclose the information.
The article claims that the Phoenix Ghost is actually a family of unmanned aerial vehicles from AEVEX Aerospace, and features photos and declared specifications for several kamikaze drones of this family.
One is called Disruptor, it can take off using a solid rocket booster. This drone visually resembles the Shahed-101, the declared range is 600 kilometers, the warhead weight is 22 kilograms. The baseline version is equipped with an internal combustion engine, and there is an alternative one, affixed with an electronic fuel injection system, effectively doubling the flight range up to 1,300 kilometers.
The second UAV of the family is called Dominator, it relies either on a catapult launch or its rocket booster. The range is 500+ km for the standard variant or 1,200 km with electric fuel injection. Identical in size, the Dominator carries a 16-kilogram warhead with the maximum flight duration of 5+ hours.
Another noteworthy detail is the product called Atlas among the Phoenix Ghost series. This loitering munition looks similar to the Switchblade 300/600, offering a modest range of 120 km, compensating it with compact dimensions: fuselage length is 0.6 meters, and wingspan is about 1,2 m (2x4 feet).
Defense Express notes, this first public presentation of the Phoenix Ghost drones actually raises a number of questions. Foremostly, if these drones have really been used on the battlefield against the russian forces since 2022, then why, for example, have there been no confirmed evidence or wreckage indicating the use of Disruptor or Dominator drones until now, despite their specification allowing for strikes on remote targets deep inside russian territory.
Read more: First Footage of a Phoenix Ghost Drone in Action (Video)
