United to win: UK to send Ukraine 200 missiles for air defense systems
ASRAAM anti-aircraft missile under the wing of a Typhoon fighter. Photo: MBDA
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom has approved the transfer of a new batch of missiles for air defense systems in Ukraine, Rubryka reports.
What's the problem?
According to British analysts, since December 29, 2023, the Russian army has increased the intensity of its long-range strikes against Ukraine. In recent months, their forces have utilized a significant portion of the stockpiled air-launched cruise and ballistic missiles.
Initially, it seemed that Russia intended to resume this campaign by targeting energy facilities in early December 2023. However, new Russian operations indicate at least a temporary change in approach to using long-range strikes.
On January 3, emergency and rescue operations in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv were completed. They started on December 29 after a massive Russian attack with the use of 122 rockets.
The Russian rocket attack killed 32 people, including one person who died in the hospital.
Overall, the attack on December 29 in Ukraine resulted in:
- 18 settlements in 10 regions were affected;
- 170 people were injured;
- 53 were killed;
- 22 people were rescued.
President Zelensky, in a conversation with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reported that over the past five days, the Russians launched at least 500 missiles and attack drones over Ukraine.
What's the solution?
After the extensive Russian attack on January 29, Britain announced the urgent supply of missiles to Ukraine for air defense systems.
The decision to transfer an additional batch of missiles was made by the British Ministry of Defense after one of the largest missile attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the war. It happened on the night of January 2, 2024.
How does it work?
As reported by the British agency, the additional Zenith missiles are expected to improve capabilities in destroying Russian drones and missiles targeting civilian and critical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Defence noted that Ukraine would receive 200 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles used by British air defense systems. The ASRAAM missile was developed by British Aerospace and is currently produced by MBDA UK for use with Typhoon and F-35B fighters.
Forbes: Russia spent about $620 million on massive rocket strikes on Ukraine on January 2
A whole family of modular anti-aircraft missiles known as CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile) has been developed based on this missile for use on ships, ground launchers, and aircraft.
British experts have developed an air defense system based on the modular Supacat HMT vehicle, using short-range ASRAAM air-to-air missiles to strengthen air defense.
This approach allowed:
- Expanding Ukraine's existing air defense system fleet;
- Improving capabilities in destroying airborne targets.
Supacat HMT modular vehicle with a launcher for two ASRAAM missiles. Photo by MBDA
Thanks to the use of the LOAL (Lock-On After Launch) system, the missile can launch without the immediate lock-on of the target by the self-guided warhead, increasing the effective launch range.
In other news, Ukraine's mobile air defense units neutralized eight attack drones and shot down 11 cruise missiles on January 2 in the Northern Operational Zone.
Moreover, the State Border Guard Service units have strengthened their defenses with new ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft systems.
