UK unveils Gravehawk air defence system destined for Ukraine
The United Kingdom is set to supply Ukraine with a new mobile air defence system later this year. According to the British government, the system was developed swiftly to address Ukraine's battlefield needs, with funding provided jointly by the UK and Denmark. What is known about the elusive Gravehawk system?
"The innovative system, comparable in size to a shipping container, can adapt air-to-air missiles for ground-based air defence, enabling the use of missiles already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces Source," stated the British government in a press release. It stressed that due to Russia's relentless bombardment of Ukraine, "the Gravehawk system will strengthen Ukraine's air defence, allowing it to protect its cities, troops and critical infrastructure."
Gravehawk system for Ukraine
The British indicate that in September 2024, two prototypes of the Gravehawk system were tested in Ukraine, with tests for an additional 15 planned for 2025. Details regarding the system's specifications and capabilities remain confidential. However, the Ukrainian military-focused service Militarny suggests that the rapid development of Gravehawk indicates it may not be a "fully developed anti-aircraft system but rather a relatively simple design based on off-the-shelf components."
Additionally, according to the service, Gravehawk might resemble the existing British anti-aircraft missile setup, mounted on a Supacat HMT chassis and featuring an electro-optical head with a launcher for AIM-132 ASRAAM missiles. The distinction is that Gravehawk will facilitate the use of Ukrainian missiles. Another possibility is that Gravehawk will be based on Soviet air-to-air guided missiles R-73, of which Ukraine has a substantial stock.
It is also worth noting that up to this point, the United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with Terrahawk Paladin systems, which are short-range anti-aircraft weapons and improvised air defence setups. Terrahawk Paladin is a modern, stationary air defence system produced by the British company MSI Defence Systems. Its main purpose is to protect critical infrastructure from aerial threats such as drones or cruise missiles.
It is equipped with a 30-mm Mk44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon, with the option to upgrade to a 40-mm calibre. The Terrahawk Paladin features a radar with four AESA antennas, providing 360-degree coverage, as well as the SATOS electro-optical targeting station with a thermal imaging camera and laser rangefinder. This enables the system to autonomously detect, track, and eliminate targets in all weather conditions.
