Aevex Phoenix Ghost
Family of loitering munitions designed by Aevex Aerospace.
The Aevex Phoenix Ghost is a family of loitering munitions—explosive drones—built by the U.S. firm Aevex Aerospace. A senior U.S. defense official said early versions were much like the AeroVironment Switchblade, though later models grew larger and more powerful. The drone’s main job is to fly an explosive charge to a target chosen by a human operator. It can stay aloft for up to six hours, watching an area, and is effective against medium-armored ground targets. Infrared sensors let it operate at night.
In October 2024, Aevex explained that the Phoenix Ghost was not a single drone but a series of designs in different sizes and shapes. Examples include the Atlas, a Group 2 drone weighing 20.9 pounds with an 8.1-pound payload, a flight time of one to two hours, and a range of 74 miles (120 kilometers). The Disruptor is a Group 3 drone with a v-tail, 10.1 feet long, weighing 185 pounds or more with a 50-pound payload, endurance of 4.5 hours, and a range of 372 miles (598 kilometers). It launches pneumatically or with a rocket assist, and closely resembles the Iranian Shahed 101. The Dominator is also a Group 3 drone, similar in size and launch method to the Disruptor but with a twin-boom design. It weighs 205 pounds or more, has an endurance of 4.6 hours, and a range of 293 miles (492 kilometers).
In April 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense said the Ghost was developed before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and was a “close match” for the needs of Ukraine’s armed forces in the Donbas battle. It later emerged that the Phoenix Ghost was part of the Big Safari weapons program. After sending 120 units in April, another 580 were announced in July 2022 for delivery starting the next month under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Unlike other early U.S. weapons sent to Ukraine, these were procured, not drawn from stocks. A November 2022 aid package included more than 1,100 Phoenix Ghosts. At peak production, Aevex shipped 230 loitering munitions to Ukraine each month. By December 2024, the company had delivered 5,000 drones to Ukraine.
Operators include the United States Air Force and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which had received at least 120 systems by early May 2022, with training also underway that month. A further 1,100 were delivered as part of the early November aid package.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Missile
- Yes
- Wars
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Manufacturer
- Aevex Aerospace
- Vehicle Range
- 6+ hour flight duration
- Guidance
- Autonomous; manual
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Phoenix Ghost was developed before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the United States Department of Defense stated it was a 'close match' for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the battle of Donbas. It was later revealed that the Phoenix Ghost was a project under the Big Safari weapons program. After initially sending 120 in April 2022, it was announced in July 2022 that another 580 Phoenix Ghosts would be delivered beginning the next month as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The Phoenix Ghost weapons were provided via a procurement, unlike other weapons the US provided to Ukraine in the early months following the invasion. A U.S. aid package announced in November 2022 included more than 1,100 Phoenix Ghosts. At the height of deliveries, Aevex was shipping 230 loitering munitions to Ukraine each month. By December 2024, the company had delivered 5,000 drones to Ukraine.
In October 2024, Aevex revealed that Phoenix Ghost wasn't a single drone, but an effort that produced several designs of different sizes and configurations. Examples include the Atlas, a Group 2 drone weighing 20.9 lb including an 8.1 lb payload with endurance of 1-2 hours and range of 74 mi (120 km); the Disruptor, a Group 3 drone with a v-tail 10.1 ft in length weighing 185 lb or more with a 50 lb payload, endurance of 4.5 hours and range of 372 mi (598 km), launched pneumatically or through RATO, and closely resembling the Iranian Shahed 101; and the Dominator, a Group 3 drone similar in size and launching method to Disruptor but in a twin-boom configuration, weighing 205 lb or more and having endurance of 4.6 hours and range of 293 mi (492 km).
Reader's Guide
The Aevex Phoenix Ghost family represents a significant evolution in loitering munition design, transitioning from a Switchblade-like concept to larger, more capable platforms. Its deployment to Ukraine was notable for being provided via procurement rather than direct drawdown, and it became a major component of U.S. aid, with over 5,000 units delivered by December 2024. The system's ability to loiter for up to six hours, conduct surveillance with infrared sensors, and engage medium-armored ground targets made it suited for the Donbas battlefield. The revelation in October 2024 that Phoenix Ghost encompassed multiple designs—including the Atlas, Disruptor, and Dominator—highlighted the program's adaptability. The Disruptor's resemblance to the Iranian Shahed 101 and its use of pneumatic or RATO launch methods illustrate the diversity within the family. The program's scale, with monthly shipments of 230 units at peak, underscores its role in sustained support for Ukraine's armed forces.
Did You Know?
- Initial versions of the Phoenix Ghost were broadly similar to the AeroVironment Switchblade.
- By December 2024, Aevex had delivered 5,000 Phoenix Ghost drones to Ukraine.
- The Disruptor variant closely resembles the Iranian Shahed 101.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aevex Phoenix Ghost?
It is a U.S.-designed family of loitering munitions—essentially one-way attack drones—produced by Aevex Aerospace. Early airframes were broadly comparable to the AeroVironment Switchblade, while later iterations in the line are larger and carry heavier warheads.
What is the Phoenix Ghost's combat role?
The drone's core mission is to hover over a designated area and then dive an explosive charge onto a ground target selected by a human operator. It is specifically optimized for striking medium-armored vehicles.
How long can a Phoenix Ghost loiter before it must strike?
The top-of-line variant can remain airborne for up to six hours while watching a zone. The lighter Atlas member of the family, by contrast, has an endurance window of roughly one to two hours.
Can the Phoenix Ghost work at night?
Yes. It is fitted with infrared sensors that let it detect and track targets in darkness or other low-visibility conditions, so operators are not limited to daylight windows.
Is the Phoenix Ghost a single drone model?
No—Aevex clarified in October 2024 that the name covers an entire series of variants rather than one airframe. The Atlas, for example, tips the scales at about 20.9 pounds and carries an 8.1-pound warhead, making it the smallest tier in the family.
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