Ancient Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Successfully Fires AGM-88 HARM Missile at Russian Positions |
Kiev - Fulcrum MiG-29 seems still relevant to today's battle. It is known, this ancient fighter aircraft successfully fired the AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) provided by the US. This is seen in a video released by the Ukrainian Air Force on August 30, 2022.
Quoted from the Eurasian Times, the whereabouts of the HARM in Ukraine became known after the Russian Telegram channel released images of the AGM-88 HARM allegedly destroyed, reportedly fired at Russian positions. Shortly thereafter, the Biden administration officially confirmed granting HARM to Ukraine for destroying Russian air defense systems.
Read Also:Ukraine Shares Video of MiG-29 Firing US-Sent AGM-88 HARM Anti-Radiation Missile
The latest video released by the Ukrainian air force shows the HARM in action from inside the cockpit of a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter. The footage shows multiple HARM launches, including two pairs of HARMs launched from medium altitude.
Anti-radiation missiles do represent a significant upgrade for the Ukrainian military. However, there are reports that Russian air defense systems have limited the capabilities of the Ukrainian air force operating in the eastern Donbas region.
"They created in the Donbas a strong [anti-access/denial area] zone, and under these circumstances, it is dangerous to fly over it," said the Foreign Policy report citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. "At low altitude, Russian air defenses are waiting for us," the official said.
The AGM-88 HARM or high-speed anti-radiation missile is a tactical air-to-surface missile designed to locate and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems.
Read Also: AGM-88 HARM Missile Received by Ukraine Claims Capable of Overthrowing Russia's S-400
The AGM-88 can detect, strike, and destroy targets with a minimum of crew input. The proportional guidance system that hones enemy radar emissions has a fixed antenna and a seeker head on the nose of the missile. Smokeless, solid propellant dual boost rocket motor propels the missile.
Quoted from The Drive, anti-radiation missiles such as the AGM-88 are primarily designed to capture enemy signal transmitters. These are primarily air defense radars, including those directly linked to surface-to-air missile systems, and neutralize them.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the Ukrainian Air Force has been calling for this kind of SEAD/DEAD capability. This is none other than to counter Russia's extensive surface-to-air missile threat.