Original Source
Ukraine Transfers Anti-Drone Technology to Middle East to Jointly Counter Shahed Drone Threat
Middle East Asks Ukraine for Shahed Drone Defense Training
As the Shahed drone threat in the Middle East region escalated, the United States and its Arab allies officially requested assistance from Ukraine. Consequently, Ukrainian forces arrived in the Middle East this week to commence anti-drone defense training. Oleksandr Kamyshin, Strategic Advisor to the President of Ukraine, revealed that 11 official requests had been received from Middle Eastern countries, with Europe and the United States also joining these requests. He emphasized that Ukraine recently endured an overnight attack of over 700 Shahed drones and missiles, yet managed to shoot down more than 90% of them at a low cost.
Sharing Low-Cost, High-Efficiency 'Zbroya' Technology and Strengthening International Cooperation
Advisor Kamyshin explained that Ukraine would provide all types of anti-drone solutions, including electronic warfare (EW), acoustic sensors, and drone interceptors. He added that Ukraine's drone interceptors cost less than $5,000 each, with the cheapest models around $2,000, making them highly efficient compared to Shahed drones, which range from $50,000 to $150,000 per unit. Ukraine expressed its willingness to share this experience and technology with partner nations, hoping to attract investment and expand into joint procurement and production in the long term. He mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed assistance with anti-drone technology for Middle East defense to then-U.S. President Donald Trump in August 2025, but had not received an official response at the time. However, he stated that the situation changed starting 11 days ago when Iranian drones began landing in the Gulf region, prompting the United States to engage in discussions about joint production of Ukrainian-made weapons, known as Zbroya (Ukrainian for 'weapon').
Russia-Iran Technology Exchange and Its Impact on Global Security
Advisor Kamyshin pointed out that Russia has actively improved the Shahed drone technology acquired from Iran, even sharing some components back with Iran, indicating a robust technology exchange between the two countries. Indeed, Russian-made components were found in some drones shot down in the Gulf region. He assessed this 'axis of evil' cooperation between Iran and Russia as operating very powerfully, emphasizing that all allies of the free world could unite to utilize technology developed by Ukraine and resources from partners to make the world safer.
*Source: YouTube: PBS NewsHour (2026-03-11)*
