What is Gravehawk, the new air defence system that could give Ukraine an edge?
The Gravehawk, an air defence system designed by the United Kingdom and Denmark that's the size of a shipping container, retrofits air missiles for 'ground-based air defence".
The UK government says this means Ukrainians can use the weapons they already have.
According to the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), the system uses the Soviet R-73 or AA-11 short-range air-to-air missiles, which can take on targets up to 32 kilometres.
The BFBS wrote the storage container also has a system at the very top that uses passive infrared radiation to detect its targets. These images are then transmitted to a command module.
"With Ukraine under constant Russian bombardment, the Gravehawk system will boost Ukraine's air defences, allowing them to defend their cities, troops and critical infrastructure," a government statement from earlier this year said.
Part of a multi-million equipment package to Ukraine
Two prototypes have already been tested in Ukraine and a further 15 units are coming in 2025, the government said in January. Ukraine used an R-73 missile to shoot down a Russian helicopter in December.
According to Luke Pollard, the armed forces minister, the cost of producing and delivering two prototype Gravehawks to Ukraine was circa £6 million (€7 million) and was 'borne by the UK".
The other 15 units dedicated to Ukraine will cost £14 million (€16.8 million) and will be split between the UK and Denmark, the response continued.
According to the UK's Ministry of Defence, the 15 Gravehawks are part of the £150 million (€180.3 million) military equipment package announced by the British government.
The announcement includes thousands of drones, 50 armoured vehicles, and air defence equipment for more than 100 Ukrainian air defence teams.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
Ahead of Trump-Putin meeting, Europeans reaffirm opposition to border changes 'by force'
EU diplomacy went into overdrive with four days left before the summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska. As the meeting could shape Ukraine's future, European leaders employed every available means to convey their message to the US administration, hoping it would be considered. "We're doing everything we can," said one diplomat. In an effort to present a united front, all heads of state and government in the European Union – except for Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister – published a joint statement on Tuesday morning, August 12. Although European leaders "welcomed President Trump's work to end Russia's war of aggression", they outlined their priorities for ensuring European security and Ukrainian sovereignty. They stated that genuine peace negotiations could only occur "in the context of a ceasefire or reduction in hostilities," adding that "international borders must not be changed by force." This joint statement was released amid an intense period of European diplomacy. The next step is a video conference on Wednesday initiated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. The call will bring together the "coalition of the willing," a group of countries prepared to deploy military resources in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. Also involved are the Polish and Italian prime ministers, the Finnish president, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council.
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Euronews
Trump–Putin talks propel Russian markets to 3-month high
Russian markets are reacting positively to the upcoming visit by President Vladimir Putin to the United States — his first since 2015 — with the MOEX Russia Index climbing above 2,950 points, its highest level since late April. The index initially rose last Wednesday as Putin met with Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. It then began to climb again as the location of the Trump-Putin summit was announced on Friday. On Tuesday at around 15.15 CEST, the MOEX was trading at 2,959.63, a bump of 1.2% compared to its close at around 2,924.63 on Friday. Investors are hopeful about a diplomatic breakthrough at the upcoming Trump–Putin meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, likely counting on an easing of sanctions or new trade channels being unlocked. The jump was buoyed by Russian energy giants, with Gazprom shares climbing 3.65% and Novatek surged 5.44%, according to the Moscow Times. Geopolitical buzz Geopolitical buzz can swing markets as investors are encouraged by the possibility of conflict resolution or escalation. Just the prospect of high-level talks can trigger climbs in sectors tied to trade, energy or infrastructure. However, uncertainty or lack of results can just as quickly reverse the gains, which could happen if the much-anticipated summit does not produce any tangible results — something that is likely due to the fact that European powers are so far not involved in the talks between Trump and Putin. It also remains unclear how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be incorporated in the talks, as he and European powers insist there can be no lasting deal without Kyiv agreeing to it as well. Before the 2022 sanctions caused by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the MOEX Russia Index was trading near record highs above 3,800 points in late 2021, backed by strong oil prices and post-pandemic recovery momentum.
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Euronews
Russian forces reportedly breach Ukrainian defences in eastern Donetsk
Russian forces have intensified their offensive in eastern Ukraine, pushing towards the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway in the Donetsk region, according to reports. Ukraine's open-source intelligence project DeepState said that Moscow troops have probably seized nearby settlements to support further offensive operations as they are trying to pierce Ukrainian defences. The DeepState map now shows the grey zone touching the Dobropillia–Kramatorsk highway, which was used regularly by civilian and military traffic just weeks ago. Dobropillia lies 94 kilometres northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk, and about 22 kilometres north of the embattled city of Pokrovsk. Russia has been trying to advance in this area for months. Moscow troops have been pushing in the direction between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region since spring. The offensive has gained pace in August, endangering the key Ukrainian logistics routes, which might now be threatened by the range of Russian drones. US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says it might be premature to call the Russian advances in the Dobropillya area an operational-level breakthrough, "though Russian forces very likely seek to mature their tactical advances into an operational-level breakthrough in the coming days". 'Russian forces used a similar tactical penetration in mid-April 2024 to facilitate the seizure of operationally significant territory northwest of Avdiivka," ISW said. "The next several days in the Pokrovsk area of operations will likely be critical for Ukraine's ability to prevent accelerated Russian gains north and northwest of Pokrovsk.' Ukraine's 1st Azov Corps of the National Guard has taken up defensive positions in the Pokrovsk sector to block attacking Russian forces, having arrived in the area "several days" ago, the unit reported on Tuesday. The elite unit described the situation along the Pokrovsk axis as "complex and dynamic," with Russian troops attempting to advance while reportedly suffering losses in both personnel and equipment. 'No sign' Russia preparing for end to war, Zelenskyy said The ISW added that Russia is likely focusing on advances toward Dobropillya to set informational conditions ahead of the Friday summit in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Moscow is preparing to launch new offensives in the country. '(Putin) is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before,' the Ukrainian leader said. Zelenskyy referred to Ukraine's intelligence and military command report that Moscow is preparing new offensive operations. 'They are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations," he emphasised.
