The Armed Forces of Ukraine used a hybrid air defense system of FrankenSAM project for the first time during a terrorist night attack on Ukrainian peaceful cities on January 17. The Defenders of Ukraine managed to shoot down Shahed-136 kamikaze drone using this weapon. This was announced by the Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshin, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
According to Kamyshin, target was destroyed at a distance of 9 kilometers. At the same time, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that 19 out of 20 russian kamikaze drones were destroyed during this attack within Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kirovohrad Oblasts. Occupiers launched their drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsky area, russia.
Read more: NATO AWACS Flied Almost 500 Times in 2023 Helping Ukraine Repel russian Air Strikes
It also became known that five FrankenSAM systems have already been deployed in Ukrainе. According to Oleksandr Kamyshin, despite integration of existing components, a successful combat use was preceded by a cycle of testing. It is known that the first test launch was not successful. However, thanks to the professionalism of Ukrainian and American manufacturers, the SAM system reached its full combat capability. The name of the air defense system as well as kinds of components used in it were not announced.
For now three FrankenSAM projects are publicly known:
- An unknown launcher with AIM-9M missiles;
- The Buk surface-to-air missile system with AIM-7/RIM-7 missiles;
- Patriot missiles and launchers with Ukrainian radar.
In particular, the supply of the first such unannounced type of air defense system was announced in late October 2023. It is noted that versions of hybrid air defense systems have been tested at military bases in the United States. The United States and Ukraine signed a declaration on joint weapons production in December 2023.
Earlier Defense Express wrote about new details Ukraine’s spy Chief had told on russia’s A-50, Il-22 aircraft downing.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: the Shootdown of russian A-50 and Il-22M Aircraft Underscores Several Critical Factors
