On August 7, some Russian Telegram channels published photos of the debris labeled “BSU-60 A / B”, which is typical of the US AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missile
Before that, the Ukrainian command “South” reported the destruction of four S-300 air defense systems and the Pantsir-S1 air defense missile system (Russian sources, including unofficial ones, do not report such losses). It is possible that the missile was used against one of these targets.
The surface-to-air AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radar Missile), was developed by Texas Instruments, while the production was done by Raytheon Corporation. Adopted in 1983, replacing the AGM-45 Shrike, which was used in Vietnam. It was first used in 1986 in the US military operation against Libya.
This is a specialized anti-radar missile, designed to “dazzle” air defense systems, it is guided by the radar beam of anti-aircraft gunners and hits its target. Unlike the Shrike, this missile does not lose its target even if the seeker is disabled or the frequency is changed (a common anti-radar defense tactic). Launch range from 25 to 150 km from the target.
Generally like a rocket, one cannot say that it is very young. But there are two aspects to consider.
First, it is not clear by which agencies this missile was used.
It is an air-launched missile. They throw him out of planes. But a modern guided missile (after all, even an aerial bomb), is not just suspended from any suitable carrier, but used as part of a weapon complex. It also needs to be integrated into the aircraft’s electronic system and software.
There was no information in the media that these missiles were installed on Soviet-style aircraft. According to official data, these missiles, in addition to the United States, are in service with nine more countries that do not have Soviet aircraft in service.
UNIAN writes: “Of course, we can assume that somehow we launch them from the ground, but the version that we received Slovakian and Romanian MiG-29s, which went through modernization programs, is more likely. And probably one of those upgrades involved integration with the AGM-88” and continues:
“It can still be assumed that the missile was fired from a tactical missile carrier, such as an F-16 or F-18. But these aircraft are not in service with the Ukrainian Air Force. Or is there something we don’t know? The probability of this is low, mainly because it is assumed that such aircraft would be detected by electronic intelligence, but the Russian side did not mention this.”
Second, on July 28, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine announced the receipt of anti-radar missiles, however, these munitions do not appear in the Pentagon’s official lists, published on the White House website.
Of course, there is a possibility that the missiles were procured from Greece, Spain or Turkey, but here again the question arises about compatibility, which can only be achieved if the carrier is modernized with the participation of an American manufacturer.
So, most likely, we are talking about the supply of weapons outside the official process. We don’t know if this can be considered smuggling and if such supplies violate domestic American rules, (probably not – lend-lease is aimed at exactly that), but two new possibilities open up here.
On the one hand, deliveries of new weapons to Ukraine can be made much faster, bypassing bureaucratic procedures.
On the other hand, the Armed Forces of Ukraine may have new weapons systems, which have not been announced before. Including aircraft (the very carriers of HARM missiles), tanks, long-range missiles, etc.
Note that on the evening of August 9, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs, Colin Kahl, said that the United States had delivered anti-radar missiles to Ukraine, but refused to specify the timing, volume and nomenclature of the deliveries. .
