AEVEX Aerospace
Phoenix Ghost
A family of American loitering munitions developed by AEVEX Aerospace under the Big Safari program, rushed to Ukraine from April 2022 as a close match for battlefield needs in the Donbas. It encompasses several distinct designs (Atlas, Disruptor, Dominator) rather than a single airframe, with over 5,000 delivered to Ukraine by December 2024.
In service since 2022
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
120
km range
4
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; procured via Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; specs are for the smallest Atlas variant, larger variants (Disruptor, Dominator) have different range/payload
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
In service since 2022. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 120 km |
|---|---|
| Endurance Time on station. Critical for UAVs and patrol platforms, higher means longer persistent coverage. | 6 h |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 4 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Explosive munition, effective against medium-armored ground targets |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 10 kg |
|---|---|
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 0 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Electric motor |
|---|
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Infrared sensors for night operations |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public AEVEX Aerospace and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost? +
The AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost has a maximum range of 120 km.
What is the weapons payload of the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost? +
The AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost can carry up to 4 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost weigh? +
The AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost has a combat weight of 10 kg.
How many crew does the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost require? +
The AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost requires a crew of 0.
What is the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost used for? +
The AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost is a uav / drone typically used for deep strike.
How much does the AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost cost? +
AEVEX Aerospace Phoenix Ghost: Unit cost not publicly disclosed; procured via Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; specs are for the smallest Atlas variant, larger variants (Disruptor, Dominator) have different range/payload. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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