Ukraine's MiG‑29s strike Russian targets with AGM‑88 launch
On social media, photos and videos from the front are appearing as frequently as mushrooms after rain. Many are so striking that they are hard to ignore. One photograph that stands out captures the launch of an AGM-88 HARM missile from a Ukrainian MiG-29.
Ukrainian pilots are actively protecting their country's airspace, using all available aircraft. Although they have some F-16s in their arsenal, MiG-29s remain abundant over Ukraine. It is one such MiG-29 that features prominently in a photo shared online by profiles such as OSINT Technical on platform X.
Missile launch from Ukrainian aircraft
This image of the MiG-29 is extraordinary because it captures the launch of an AGM-88 HARM missile. According to posts on X, the missile was fired towards a Russian radar. This type of ammunition is crucial for Ukrainians because it helps neutralize enemy defences. The AGM-88 is essentially a precision weapon designed to destroy enemy radar systems.
In practice, this missile targets locations the Russian Federation utilizes to monitor opposition movements. The AGM-88 specifically targets emissions from systems such as anti-aircraft defence, enabling Ukrainians to move their troops strategically or conduct operations clandestinely from the Russian forces.
AGM-88 missile in service
The AGM-88 HARM was created in 1983, entering service two years later. A single missile is over 4 metres long, with a diameter of about 25 centimetres and a wingspan of slightly over 1 metre. This type of weapon weighs approximately 360 kilograms.
The maximum speed of this U.S.-manufactured missile, by Raytheon, reaches 2,279 kilometres per hour, while its range is just under 50 kilometres. The warhead, which contains shrapnel, weighs about 70 kilograms.
The MiG-29 aircraft, from which the AGM-88 missile was launched, are primarily fighter jets. MiG-29s are designed for air combat and ground attacks during flight. They achieve speeds of about 2,400 kilometres per hour and can operate at altitudes up to 17,500 metres. The main weapon of this aircraft is the standard GSh-30-1 cannon with a 30 mm calibre, while additional bombs and missiles can be carried on under-fuselage pylons.
