The US government delivered 24 RQ-11B unmanned aircraft systems to the Ukrainian government Wednesday. The package of 72 individual Ravens—hand-launched reconnaissance and surveillance tools—along with associated equipment was provided as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, according to a statement from the US Embassy there. Several dozen Ukrainian soldiers trained to fly the Ravens in Huntsville, Ala., prior to the delivery. The US has provided the Eastern European country—facing continued Russian aggression—more than $600 million worth of training and equipment, according to the statement.
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.