The UK to provide Ukraine with 200 air defense missiles

4 January, 2024 ASRAAM anti-aircraft missile under the wing of a Typhoon fighter. Photo credits: MBDA The UK Ministry of Defense has approved the transfer of a new batch of air defense system missiles to Ukraine.

The United Kingdom Government reported on this. The additional number of air defense missiles should help provide better capabilities to destroy Russian drones and missiles targeting civilian and critical infrastructure. The Ministry of Defense made the decision to transfer an additional batch of missiles after one of the most massive missile attacks on Ukraine since the beginning of the war, which took place on January 1, 2024.

Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Ukraine will receive 200 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, used by British air defense systems.

Supacat HMT vehicle with a launcher for two ASRAAM missiles.

Photo credits: The Times

The ASRAAM are manufactured in the UK by defense contractor MBDA and are designed to be launched from aircraft including the UK's Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets. In addition, a whole family of anti-air modular missiles, known as CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), has been developed on the basis of this missile for use from ships, ground launchers, and aircraft. To strengthen air defense, British experts have developed an air defense system based on the Supacat HMT vehicle, which uses short-range ASRAAM air-to-air missiles.

This approach has allowed Ukraine to expand its existing fleet of air defense systems and improve its ability to destroy air targets. Due to the LOAL system (lock-on after launch), the missile can be launched without the homing head first locking-on the target, which increases the effective launch range.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the UK government will ramp up naval support for Ukraine within a 10-year security pact to be signed in the coming weeks.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with relevant intelligence and military assistance to counter Russia.