What missile systems the Air Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces need - General explains

The Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine need to be re-equipped with modern surface-to-air missile systems.

This concerns SAMs of three classes: short-range, medium-range, and long-range. This is stated in an article for Ukrinform entitled 'Domestic Warfare. Air Confrontation' by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zabrodskyi.

According to him, the future architecture of the domestic air defense regarding SAMs must be 'clearly formed, agreed upon, and accepted for implementation by us and our partners' right now.

The General emphasized that there is already a clear need to equip the Air Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with systems of three classes based on their range of hit against aerial targets: short-range up to 40 km, medium-range up to 100 km, and long-range over 100 km. According to estimates, the need for these classes of SAMs is about two-thirds, less than one-third, and 8-10% respectively.

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According to Zabrodskyi, the filling of such a structure has already begun. For example, the SAM IRIS-T SL developed under the guidance of German specialists, the American family of MIM-23 Hawk, and the Norwegian-American NASAMS 2 in their current configurations are typical representatives of the short-range SAM class, replacing the Soviet Buk-M1.

Next, in his opinion, should be filling the component of medium-range SAMs to replace the S-300 systems. The French SAMP/T with a declared range of up to 100 km may become such a system for the Ukrainian Air Forces in the near future. It is also capable of intercepting ballistic targets. Alternatively, the Israeli Barak-8 with a declared range of up to 90 km. Serious advantages will also be provided by the use of the American MIM-104 Patriot in the modernization of PAC-3. As for long-range SAMs, with the consent of partners, the American THAAD could also be used, for example.

According to Zabrodskyi, Ukraine should continue negotiations with international partners on the acquisition of modern combat aircraft.

Russian invaders carried out another massive missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure on December 16. Explosions were heard in various regions of Ukraine.

On Friday, Russian terrorists launched 76 missiles at critical infrastructure in Ukraine. The Ukrainian air defense shot down 60 enemy missiles. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The air defense shot down 79% of Russian missiles.