US deploys Ukrainian Sky Map technology to defend Saudi air base against Iranian drones

The United States has deployed Ukrainian anti-drone technology at one of its most critical air bases in Saudi Arabia, despite public assertions from Donald Trump that Ukrainian assistance is not required to counter Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

According to five sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, the Sky Map anti-drone system was installed in recent weeks at Prince Sultan Air Base. The deployment follows a March incident in which Iranian-linked elements destroyed a US AWACS airborne early warning and control aircraft and damaged several tankers at the facility.

The sources stated that Ukrainian military experts are currently providing training to US personnel on the operation of the Sky Map system. The technology is extensively utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to detect and neutralize UAVs, including the Iranian-designed Shahed models.

Developed by the Ukrainian firm Sky Fortress, which was established in 2022, Sky Map has become the primary platform used by the Ukrainian military to identify drone threats, according to three separate sources cited by Reuters. The system operates via a nationwide network of more than 10,000 acoustic sensors, which rapidly transmit data on detected UAVs to military units for interception.

The deployment stands in contrast to public statements made by Donald Trump. On March 6, Trump publicly rejected an offer of assistance from Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding defense against Iranian drones. Speaking to Fox News, Trump stated, “We don’t need their help in defending against drones. We know more about drones than anyone else.”

However, shortly after those remarks, Iran launched thousands of drones targeting military installations—including US facilities in Persian Gulf countries—as well as energy infrastructure, ports, and civilian residential areas.

Following these developments, several Arab nations initiated discussions with Kyiv to seek support in drone defense. According to a report by the Financial Times in March, US military officials participated in these negotiations, despite the administration’s public rhetoric. The talks were described as multi-dimensional, involving government, corporate, and military echelons.

A Ukrainian source told the newspaper, “The Americans made very concrete requests, and we will provide what is needed based on those requirements.”

Analysts suggest that the integration of Ukrainian technology at Prince Sultan Air Base, located approximately 640 kilometers from Iran, highlights vulnerabilities in US defense systems.

Timothy Walton, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington, told Reuters: “It has long been known that there are gaps in US air and missile defense systems worldwide. Despite awareness of this situation, the problem has not been resolved to date.”

A report by The Wall Street Journal in late March noted that while the US possesses sophisticated reconnaissance and large-scale strike drones, it only began training on the use of first-person view (FPV) drones in recent months. Initial training reportedly commenced within the Marine Corps, whereas such devices have served as primary “hunters” against enemy personnel and equipment on the Ukrainian battlefield for several years.

Michael Kofman, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that US military units are only now beginning to familiarize themselves with FPV technology. “They are trying to understand the impact of these vehicles on combat power and the consequences for existing tactics, methods, and procedures. We have a long way to go to reach the level Ukraine has already achieved,” Kofman said.

The reports further indicate that US and NATO high command long dismissed the “drone revolution” occurring in Ukraine, operating under the assumption that Western forces would fight a different type of conflict characterized by total air superiority and precision strike capabilities.

Consequently, the US and its Middle Eastern allies were reportedly caught unprepared for the scale of Iranian UAV strikes. It was noted that, initially, multi-million dollar missiles, including the Patriot system, were used to down inexpensive Shahed drones.

Fabrice Pothier, CEO of Rasmussen Global and former NATO Director of Policy Planning, characterized the events in Ukraine and the nature of Iranian countermeasures against US and Israeli air operations as a serious warning.

“The wall of arrogance, stemming from the belief that our systems are far more advanced, has still not collapsed, including within the NATO leadership,” Pothier stated. “In reality, much more needs to be done than what Ukraine is currently achieving.”