The US department of defence has informed Congress that it is diverting critical anti-drone technology originally earmarked for Ukraine by the Joe Biden administration to support US Air Force operations in the Middle East. At the centre of this shift is the decision to reroute proximity fuzes intended for Ukraine’s 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets. These rockets, which form a vital part of the L3 Harris VAMPIRE counter-drone system, have been central to Ukraine’s defence against Russian drones.
The technology will instead be sent to Air Force Central Command, following an order from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. In a letter dated May 29 to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, the Pentagon cited the reallocation as a “Secretary of Defense Identified Urgent Issue”. The fuzes, which were purchased through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), enhance the effectiveness of the rockets by triggering a blast as they approach enemy drones.
This move is the latest sign of shifting US military priorities under President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for a stronger American posture in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. It also reflects the growing strain on US defence stockpiles, particularly in key areas such as anti-drone warfare.
Over recent months, the Pentagon has redirected several assets to the Middle East, including air defence systems. US forces in the region face increasing threats from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria as well as from the Houthis in Yemen. The Air Force has begun integrating APKWS rockets into its fleet of F-16s and F-15Es, using them as a more affordable solution against unmanned aerial vehicles than traditional Sidewinder or AMRAAM missiles.
While the Pentagon insists the shift is necessary, the decision has drawn criticism from members of Congress who argue that it could seriously weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Some have questioned the urgency of the Air Force’s requirement, accusing the administration of sidelining Ukraine at a crucial moment. “It is unthinkable to deny Ukraine a critical weapon at this critical point in the war,” said one Democratic member of Congress. The issue has been further politicised by Secretary Hegseth’s absence from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at NATO’s Ramstein headquarters yesterday.
The full consequences of the reallocation remain unclear, but the proximity fuzes have significantly improved Ukraine’s capacity to intercept Russian drones.
