The United Kingdom has officially unveiled the Gravehawk Air Defense Missile System, specifically designed for Ukraine.
The U.K. earlier announced plans to deliver 15 Gravehawk Air Defense Missile Systems to Ukraine in 2025. Designed to counter Russian drones, missiles, and aircraft, the system was previously provided to Ukraine in prototype form, with two units delivered in September 2024.
The timeline for Britain’s delivery of the remaining units remains uncertain. According to Forces News, which presented the system to the public, it was developed from the ground up in just 18 months.
The slightly mad scientists at the UK MOD have revealed the Gravehawk surface-to-air missile system for Ukrainian service.
The entire SAM system fits in a standard shipping container, carries a pair of converted R-73 AAMs, and can be quickly deployed off the back of a flatbed. pic.twitter.com/BTF0b7LjCg
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 12, 2025
Specific details about the system remain limited but sources suggest that it is compatible with AIM-132 ASRAAM and Soviet-era R-73 (AA-11 Archer) missiles, which are already in Ukraine’s arsenal.
The R-73, originally designed for fighter jets, is a heat-seeking missile with a range of about 20 miles (32 km) and speeds of up to Mach 2.5.
A new British-built surface-to-air missile system is being supplied to Ukraine which it’s hoped could be a solution to a lack of air defence.
Gravehawk has been developed from scratch in just 18 months. Gravehawk is armed with R-73 air-to-air missiles. https://t.co/3fyKwbs1ST pic.twitter.com/d25Z1oq4eE
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) February 12, 2025
The development of the Gravehawk Air Defense Missile System was jointly funded by the U.K. and Denmark, with an estimated development cost of £6 million ($7.6 million).
British Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized that Gravehawk is part of Britain’s long-term commitment to Ukraine. He also added that Britain’s £4.5 billion ($5.5 billion) aid package to Ukraine includes “hundreds more air defense systems, drones, and essential military support.”
