Britain to supply Ukraine with at least five Raven air defence systems to add to the eight already in service

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that it will supply eight Raven air defence systems to Ukraine in 2022. However, the Royal Marines reported that five more units are planned to be delivered in the near future.

Here's What We Know

The Raven air defence system is a highly mobile solution specially adapted to the needs of the Ukrainian military. It is built on the Supacat HMT 600 6x6 chassis, which provides high mobility and rapid deployment in combat conditions.

The main weapon of the system is the ASRAAM (AIM-132) missile, a supersonic air-to-air missile with infrared guidance capable of exceeding Mach 3. Although ASRAAM was originally designed for the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 aircraft, it has been adapted for ground launch, allowing Ukrainian forces to more effectively counter drones, helicopters and cruise missiles.

The Raven system is also capable of intercepting manoeuvre aircraft such as Russia's Su-25 and Ka-52. Its mobility allows it to quickly change positions, increasing survivability during combat. Using the Supacat HMT 600 6x6 chassis, the system can operate on the front line, protecting critical assets from air attacks.

The Raven is unofficially nicknamed "Frankenstein" because of its hybrid design, which combines elements of various military technologies. Its launcher is adapted for ASRAAM, and other components are borrowed from various systems, which allowed for rapid deployment without the need to develop a new platform.

Since the beginning of the war in February 2022, the UK has become one of Ukraine's key partners in military assistance, providing over £10.8 billion in aid. Annual support of £3 billion is expected to continue.

In addition to the Raven, the UK has provided Ukraine with Starstreak high-speed missiles, Stormer HVM mobile platforms and Martlet lightweight missiles, which effectively counter air threats.

Source: Army Recognition