Previously, these missiles could only be used on American and some European fighters, but were incompatible with Soviet-made aircraft in service with Ukraine.

On August 6, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the destruction of four S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system of the Russian army in one day. Against the backdrop of this unusually large "catch", photographs taken by Russians of fragments of AGM-88 HARM missiles, with which the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked elements of the air defense of the invaders, began to appear on the network. Although there was no official confirmation of the use of this type of weapon at that time, and it was also not clear if these missiles were secretly transferred to the United States, then how Ukrainian forces launch them from Soviet fighters.

It was not until August 8 that the Pentagon confirmed, without disclosing the details of the launch platforms, that the United States had provided anti-radar missiles to the Ukrainian Air Force. And on August 24, Colin Kahl, Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States, said at a briefing that before the transfer to Ukraine, AGM-88 HARM missiles were adapted so that they could be launched from MiG-29 fighters. 

AGM-88 HARM AGM-88 HARM attached to loaded on an F-4 Phantom

“Ukrainians have used HARM missiles in recent weeks with great success to disable Russian radar systems,” he added.

The AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) is a tactical air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to target radar systems. Adopted by the United States in 1983.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

Евгений Ушаков
Evgenii Ushakov
14 years driving