The Pentagon has informed Congress that it is diverting vital anti-drone technology originally meant for Ukraine to U.S. Air Force units stationed in the Middle East, according to documents obtained by CNN and individuals familiar with the matter.
The redirected equipment includes proximity fuzes, a component that enhances rocket effectiveness against drones by triggering an explosion when the rocket nears its target. These fuzes were initially purchased through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a Defense Department program established in 2014 to support Ukraine following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
However, in a letter dated May 29 to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, the Pentagon said the fuzes would instead be sent to Air Force Central Command. The shift was ordered by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who labeled the reassignment as a “Secretary of Defense Identified Urgent Issue,” according to the correspondence.
The decision reflects a broader realignment in U.S. defense priorities under President Donald Trump, focusing more on the Middle East and the Pacific region. At the same time, U.S. stockpiles of certain critical defense components are becoming increasingly strained.
While it is unclear how this move will affect Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities, the proximity fuzes have played a key role in improving Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian drone attacks. These fuzes enable rockets to detonate near drones, increasing the chances of disabling them.
U.S. forces in the Middle East are also facing frequent drone threats, particularly from Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon has been shifting more equipment to the region in recent months, including air defense systems pulled from the Indo-Pacific Command, in response to rising tensions involving Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Pentagon’s reassignment of these resources underscores the growing pressure to meet global threats with limited defense supplies.
