The U.S. is quietly pulling a critical antidrone system meant for Ukraine and redirecting it to its own forces in the Middle East, highlighting a major shift in the Trump administration’s military priorities.

The Pentagon has redirected specialized proximity fuzes—vital components for counterdrone rocket systems—from Ukraine to U.S. Air Force units operating in the Middle East. These fuzes, originally secured under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, are used in the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, enabling Ukrainian ground forces to shoot down Russian drones.

According to an internal memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the transfer as a “Secretary of Defense Identified Urgent Issue.” The Pentagon’s Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell authorized the reallocation, citing imminent threats to U.S. personnel, possibly from Iranian or Houthi drone strikes.

Blow to Kyiv’s Air Defense

The decision comes at a time when Ukraine faces escalating drone and missile attacks from Russia. Celeste Wallander, a former senior Pentagon official, warned, “This capability is urgent and vital to Ukraine’s layered air defense against Russian attacks.” Critics in Congress argue that the decision could severely impair Kyiv’s ability to defend key infrastructure.

The fuzes enable the detonation of warheads when rockets approach enemy drones, making them a cost-effective alternative to high-end missiles like Sidewinders or AMRAAMs. The U.S. Air Force has adapted them for use in F-15E and F-16 jets in the Middle East.

Congress Responds with Scrutiny

Congressional reactions have been mixed. While some aides acknowledged the Pentagon’s legal leeway under last year’s emergency military-spending bill, others condemned the lack of clarity. “Denying Ukraine desperately needed weapons at this critical point in the war is unthinkable,” said one Democratic aide.

Senate committees are now reviewing whether production of these components can be ramped up to meet both U.S. and Ukrainian needs.

Broader Shift in U.S. Policy

The move aligns with President Trump’s messaging that Europe should assume greater responsibility for Ukraine’s defense. Defense Secretary Hegseth skipped a NATO meeting on Ukraine aid this week and has repeatedly labeled the western Pacific—not Ukraine—as the Pentagon’s “priority theater.”

The redirection further complicates transatlantic coordination as European allies scramble to compensate for the growing U.S. reluctance.