Ukraine and US partner to improve air defense by upgrading Soviet-made Buk systems for American missiles
Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
Ukraine and the United States have upgraded Buk anti-aircraft systems with American missiles.
This advancement will enhance the Ukrainian air defense, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuri Ihnat, said in an interview on Radio NV.
What's the problem?
According to intelligence reports, Russia may resume missile attacks on Ukraine with the onset of colder weather. As of now, the Russian occupiers have accumulated over 800 precision missiles. Ukraine, being the largest country in Europe, has been relentlessly attacked by Russia for over a year and a half. To secure the sky from missiles, projectiles, and drones, the Air Force needs dozens of different anti-aircraft defense systems.
Despite assistance from partner countries, which provided a significant number of various air defense systems, there are still not enough to protect all regions of the country from enemy attacks.
While the Air Force possesses its own anti-aircraft missile systems, they are still Soviet-era and require modernization.
What's the solution?
Within the FrankenSAM program, Ukraine and the United States have created "hybrid" air defense systems that can launch modern Western-caliber anti-aircraft missiles from upgraded Soviet launchers.
Ukrainian officials have approached Western allies requesting help finding missiles for about 60 Buk anti-aircraft missile complexes of Soviet production and radars that have been idle in Kyiv's arsenal.
How does it work?
Colonel Ihnat stated in the interview that the upgraded "Buks" underwent testing in the United States and can strengthen Ukraine's air defense.
"There are announcements from our Western partners — we have already confirmed it — that we have good results in the combat use of the Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems, which have been adapted for American missiles. They can enhance our air defense," said Ihnat.
The spokesperson also noted that only Russia produced missiles for Buk-M1 and S-300 systems.
"We need to look for steps, ways, such as combining Soviet with American. They protect us, even if within a small radius," said the Air Force representative.
Ihnat stressed that Ukraine needed both modernized "Buks" adapted for American missiles and upgraded HAWK systems, which have already proven their effectiveness.
Rubryka reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country might ask allies to temporarily provide air defense systems to protect against Russian aerial attacks in the winter.
Moreover, additional NASAMS air defense systems from partners have recently been put on combat duty in Ukraine. Germany will also transfer two IRIS-T air defense systems to Ukraine by the end of the year.
