Defending the Skies: An In-Depth Look at the Airborne Arsenal Aiding Ukraine

In the context of modern warfare, various countries have contributed to Ukraine’s defense by providing a range of armaments. Here’s a detailed explanation of some of the key weapons systems that have been supplied:

Air-Launched Cruise Missiles

• Storm Shadow / SCALP-EG: A long-range cruise missile developed jointly by France and the United Kingdom. An unknown quantity has been delivered by the UK, and in July 2023, France announced it would supply Ukraine with SCALP missiles.

Air-to-Air Missiles

• R-73: A short-range missile from the Soviet Union’s stock, with over 100 units donated by Poland and Slovakia.
• R-60: Another short-range missile from the Soviet era, with an upgraded version donated by North Macedonia and Slovakia.
• R-27: A medium-range missile, with variants like R-27ET and R-27ER, also from the Soviet stock and domestically produced by Artem. Slovakia has donated an unknown number of these missiles.
• AIM-9 Sidewinder: A short-range missile from the United States, with Canada donating missiles from its stock.
• AIM-120 AMRAAM: A medium-range missile from the US, with the UK donating missiles following Russian attacks in October 2022, and the Pentagon ordering $1.15 billion worth to supply Ukraine.
• AIM-7 Sparrow: Another medium-range missile from the US, with Canada donating 288 units from its stock.

Air-to-Surface Missile

• Kh-25: A Soviet air-to-surface missile, with the KH-25ML variant.
• AGM-88 HARM: An American anti-radiation missile.

Decoy Missiles

• ADM-160 MALD: An American decoy missile, with the ADM-160B variant.

Guided Bombs

• MAM-L and MAM-C: Turkish guided bombs designed for the Baykar Bayraktar TB2 drones.
• Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM-ER): An American precision-guided bomb, with the JDAM-ER variant capable of hitting targets at 45 miles, provided to Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

Unguided Bombs

• OFAB-100–120 and FAB-250: Soviet-era unguided bombs.

Unguided Rockets

• Zuni: An American unguided rocket, with 4000 units delivered by the US.
• S-8, S-13, S-24, S-25: Soviet unguided rockets, with variants like S-24B and S-25OF.
• Hydra 70: An American unguided rocket, observed being used by Mi-8 CAS variants and Mi-24s.

These armaments play a crucial role in the ongoing conflict, providing Ukraine with a diverse arsenal to defend against aggression. The international support in terms of military aid reflects the global stance on the conflict and the strategic importance of maintaining a balance of power in the region.