Ukraine Could Soon Get Machine-Gun Mounted Drones

New machine-gun equipped drones could soon be handed to Ukraine's military amid the ongoing war against Russia, according to a press release from a U.S. drone company.

Feloni Aero, a Washington-based firm, announced the launch of its FelonX and Felon 1.0 weaponized drones with counter drone AI capability in a press release published by paid platform PR Newswire. It said the drones are aimed at "bolstering defense capabilities in Ukraine."

In a statement, it said Ukraine could soon receive the drones should the Pentagon decide to purchase them and send them to the war-torn country as part of a recent $61-billion aid package approved by Washington last month after months of talks.

Newsweek could not independently verify the company's claims.

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have played a crucial role in the war. Mykhailo Fedorov, who is Ukraine's vice prime minister for innovation in education, science and technology, and the digital transformation minister, has helmed Ukraine's drone program since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine's government previously launched its "Army of Drones" initiative and fundraising campaign to purchase drones for Ukraine's defense forces. Fedorov told Newsweek in December that drones "work sometimes even more efficiently than artillery" on the battlefield.

The passing of the U.S. aid package came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had been appealing to his Western allies to provide additional support, saying that his troops are being hindered by low supplies of shells.

The Felon 1.0 drone is "a groundbreaking fusion of aerial superiority and lethal precision tailored for military and law enforcement applications," the company said. "Engineered to dominate the skies, this state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicle combines advanced surveillance capabilities with the firepower of a 5.56 [mm] weapon system, revolutionizing tactical operations like never before."

A website set up by Feloni Aero states that the drone delivers "unparalleled firepower" from the skies, and would enable its operators to engage targets with "surgical precision" from a safe distance during reconnaissance missions, perimeter security, or counter-terrorism operations.

Meanwhile, the FelonX drone has been designed to "redefine the limits of drone warfare" and is engineered to carry the world's smallest Spike missile "with unparalleled efficiency and precision."

"With its advanced targeting capabilities and pinpoint accuracy, this lethal combination empowers operators with unmatched tactical superiority on the battlefield," the company said.

In a statement, Todd Dunphy, CEO of Feloni Aero, said his company's mission is to "empower nations with cutting-edge defense technologies that ensure safety and security in an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape."

"With the unwavering support from the United States government through the recent spending bill, we stand ready to contribute to Ukraine's defense efforts by delivering advanced weaponized UAVs that redefine the paradigm of modern warfare," he said.

Russia has been hit with waves of drone strikes since the war began, with some attacks reaching Moscow. Many strikes have targeted ammunition depots and warehouses. Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks on Russian soil, but the Kremlin has accused Kyiv of trying to carry out terrorist attacks using drones.

Update: May 7, 2024 at 9:30 E.T.: This article was updated with additional information.

Since the article was published, Newsweek became aware of social media users and industry professionals expressing doubts about the authenticity and veracity of the claims made by Feloni Aero, as well as about the business entity behind it.

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