Latest news with #NASAMS
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Probably broke all records' — NASAMS downs 11 Russian cruise missiles in less than 2 minutes, Ukraine's Air Force claims
Ukrainian forces operating NASAMS air defense systems downed 11 Russian cruise missiles in less than two minutes during a mass aerial attack, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Kyrylo Peretyatko said in a video published on April 27. "We probably broke all records of other countries for reload speed, and we are ready to keep doing it constantly to defend our country, as long as we have the missiles," he said. "In one air defense battle, we shot down 11 cruise missiles. The operation lasted no more than two minutes," Peretyatko said. He did not specify which Russian mass missile attack he was referring to. The U.S./Norwegian-made National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) systems have been in service with Ukrainian forces since November 2022, when the U.S. delivered the first batteries amid escalating Russian airstrikes. The NASAMS system, which has a maximum range of 50 kilometers depending on the model used, is particularly valuable for Ukraine as it uses the AIM-120 AMRAAM interceptor missile, which is the same missile used in air-to-air function in Western fighter jets. Kyiv has consistently urged Western allies to expand air defense assistance, with President Volodymyr Zelensky even offering to buy Patriot air defense systems from the U.S., warning that existing systems are insufficient. U.S. President Donald Trump later rejected the offer. While Ukraine presses for an unconditional ceasefire, in line with proposals from the U.S., Russia continues to reject the terms. It has reportedly intensified its aerial campaign and offensive operations across the front line. Over the past week, the Ukrainian air force downed 442 Russian Shahed kamikaze drones and over 230 other attack drones, as well as 31 Kh-101/Kh-55SM cruise missiles, seven Iskander ballistic missiles, six Kalibr cruise missiles, and four Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air-launched missiles, the Air Force reported on April 27. Apart from the front-line areas, Russian attacks targeted cities all over Ukraine, with a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv overnight on April 24 killing 12 people and injuring 90, including children. Read also: From hospitals to malls, the deadliest Russian strikes on civilians in Ukraine so far We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Eleven Russian missiles intercepted in two minutes: Ukrainian Air Force notes NASAMS performance
Ukraine's Air Force has reported on the performance of operators using a Western-supplied NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system, detailing how 11 Russian cruise missiles were downed in a single engagement. Source: a video by Ukraine's Air Force Details: The third modification of the NASAMS system was one of the first transferred to Ukraine by its partners. The first Norwegian short-range system arrived in Ukraine in autumn 2022. The system consists of a command post, a radar and launchers, each holding six anti-aircraft guided missiles. When Russia launches an airstrike with a large number of missiles, the radar detects these targets, operators select the launchers, fire on the targets, and report the results. A unit featured in the video is credited with destroying more than 150 targets, primarily cruise missiles and other threats. Quote from the system's operators: "We shot down 11 cruise missiles in a single anti-aircraft engagement, which lasted no more than two minutes. Russian propagandists often blame our air defence, but this is a complete lie. If the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile doesn't hit its target, it self-destructs in the air. It doesn't possess the same explosive power as Russian ballistic missiles." Details: The Air Force emphasises that the NASAMS anti-aircraft missile system is designed to target aerodynamic threats such as aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles of various modifications, and drones. The system is not equipped to engage ballistic targets, as the NASAMS radar cannot detect them, and the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile cannot intercept them. The Air Force hopes its partners will continue supplying missiles for the NASAMS system, as their stockpiles are crucial for saving lives, protecting cities and ensuring a peaceful life in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia sizes up a continent-size gap in air defenses
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian military leaders are scrambling to cobble together fresh air defense capabilities, as China's missile arsenal is growing and Beijing's warships have started showing up in Australasia. Global companies offered weaponry to that end at the recent Avalon International Airshow, held near Melbourne in late March. For now it appears that military leaders are prizing sensors over interceptors in what will be Australia's future network of weapons for defending would-be targets in a conflict. Air Vice-Marshal Nick Hogan, head of Air Force Capability, acknowledged that an integrated, medium-range air defense capability has been delayed. 'What's most important to us is seeing and sensing first, so getting the command and control right first, and then getting the kinetics that might be required to effect anything coming towards us,' he told Defense News at the Avalon event. Hogan was referring primarily to Project Air 6500, which is slowly delivering an integrated air battle management system. One lesson from Ukraine is the need for air defense, and Hogan said Australia was learning from evolutions seen globally. However, Australia currently owns only NASAMS batteries and three air-warfare destroyers. While major Australian cities and military bases are often on coasts, there are simply not enough ships to protect them all. Furthermore, it is likely the U.S. will demand an air defense umbrella to protect a nuclear submarine base being established in Western Australia. The Defence Strategic Review of 2023 urged acceleration of medium-range and high-speed missile defenses, with authors lamenting the low priority placed on integrated air and missile defense. Instead of 'pursuing a long-term, near-perfect solution at unaffordable cost,' the review said the government must allocate 'sufficient resources to the Chief of Air Force to deliver the initial capability in a timely way'. According to Hogan, ground-based defenses may not be the ideal solution for Australia. 'When you have a limited inventory, you want to be able to be as flexible as possible, so that might be using maritime stocks on land, it might be using land stocks in the maritime domain,' he said. 'There are many options to go forward. What we're trying to do is make sure, where possible, we can get the biggest return on investment using sovereign capabilities.' Asked about a timeline for implementation, Hogan said: 'As soon as we can practically make it happen.' Potential solutions, such as Raytheon's Patriot and systems from Israel and South Korea, were being promoted at Avalon Airshow 2025. Officials have also begun addressing an Australian weakness in countering drones, albeit at a limited level. Last year, Anduril Australia signed a three-year deal to trial a counter-drone capability at RAAF Base Darwin in the north, but this is an isolated step forward. Nonetheless, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of Air Force, said: 'We're investing in our northern base infrastructure,' including 'the ability to passively defend, use deception, be able to recover, be able to agilely move forces around'. Hardened aircraft shelters are no longer part of the equation. 'That was a fantastic concept for its day, but probably its day has passed,' Chappell said. 'We're already working with our civilian sector and our industry sectors in the northern half of Australia using non-military airfields to land, refuel and, in the future, rearm, combat aircraft or other aircraft in order to regenerate airpower from non-military bases.' A recent report by the U.S.-based Hudson Institute think tank assessed that as few as ten missiles, each with a warhead spraying cluster munitions over a 450-foot diameter, could neutralize all aircraft parked in the open at various key U.S. bases. Australia's situation is no different. Likewise, loitering munitions could easily penetrate regular aircraft shelters. Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, Air Commander Australia, argued the air service is 'very deliberate about our passive efforts' to protect bases. 'As threats evolve, and warfare evolves, we'd seek to have layers of defense systems that we'd want to have in place,' Braz said. 'But we're very much training our teams to fight the network of bases as a system.' Meanwhile, officials used the the Avalon airshow to provide an assessment of key aerial platforms in the pipeline. They had good things to say about the influx of F-35s, the fifth-generation warplane made by Lockheed Martin. 'We had the last nine aircraft arrive in December, so we're thrilled to have our 72 F-35s with us in Australia across our three operational squadrons, the training unit and integrated training center,' Chappell told Defense News. Elsewhere, the RAAF continues testing of Boeing Defence Australia's MQ-28A Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft. Hogan said he is 'very pleased' with progress. 'This year we're going to demonstrate the capabilities of the platform over a number of activities,' Hogan said. 'We'll test all of the payloads we've planned for potential use on the platform, with the exception of it being armed. That's one that remains in our thinking, but we're going to focus on other payloads first.' Competition for the Ghost Bat is brewing under Project Air 6015, where the RAAF will make recommendations to government on the way forward for collaborative combat aircraft, probably by year's end. Hogan said the MQ-28A will be a 'very strong contender in any options we take forward to government.' Regardless, Anduril believes its YFQ-44A Fury stands a chance. The American company displayed a full-sized model of the aircraft at the Avalon show.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy outlines potential US role in Ukraine's security guarantees
Ukraine has not yet discussed with the United States what form its participation in a potential peace guarantee mechanism might take, but it could include support for air defence. Source: Zelenskyy following the coalition of the willing summit in Paris on 27 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: Zelenskyy said that Ukraine supports US involvement in future security guarantees alongside European countries. "Europe's participation also depends on the US being involved. We will have a larger contingent if the US provides support," Zelenskyy stated, noting that no concrete discussions on the exact nature of US presence had yet taken place. He referred to discussions with US President Donald Trump on supplying Ukraine with air defence systems, saying that in the context of security guarantees, such support must not be a one-time decision but a permanent, functioning system of full protection of Ukrainian airspace – particularly involving Patriot and NASAMS systems. "A presence like that of the US is very important. I believe that is also a security guarantee," Zelenskyy emphasised. He added that air forces could also be part of potential security guarantees, but the issue had not yet been raised in discussions between Ukraine and the United States. Background: President Macron previously stated that foreign ministers of the coalition of the willing would prepare legal frameworks for monitoring any ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. Macron also expressed hope that the United States would support the deployment of a limited military contingent in Ukraine in the future. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zelensky announces upcoming Ramstein summit in Brussels
Ukraine is preparing for the next Ramstein summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his evening address on March 16. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is now in the process of organizing the next Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (UDCG), Zelensky said. "We are preparing for Brussels," he said. The last Ramstein-format UDCG meeting took place in Brussels on Feb. 12 under the chairmanship of the U.K. – a position previously held by the U.S. Leadership over Ramstein transitioned following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting focused on coordinating support for Ukraine, including expanding defense production, financing new enterprises, and increasing arms supplies through European defense industry capacities. While specific dates have yet to be confirmed, the next Ramstein summit will likely take place in late March or early April. Zelensky also said that Ukraine is acquiring more ammunition, including artillery shells and additional missiles for its IRIS-T, NASAMS, and SAMP/T air defense systems. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
