In a notable air operation over Zaporizhzhia region, the Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet successfully launched the AGM-88 HARM, targeting russian surface-to-air missile systems. The event was captured on high-quality video, offering rare visual documentation of Ukrainian SEAD mission in progress.
The pilot, callsign Phill, executed the strike with precision. The footage reveals a textbook launch sequence: clean missile ignition, rapid ascent, and the transition into high-altitude cruise mode before the weapon was released. The AGM-88 HARM, designed to home in on enemy radar emissions, was reportedly aimed at кussian Tor and Buk air defense systems stationed in the region.
Read more: Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Strikes russian Drone Operator Base with the JDAM-ER Bomb
This type of mission, firing from standoff distance followed by a quick egress, demonstrates the increasing sophistication and confidence of Ukrainian combat aviation. The maneuver involved a sharp climb to altitude post-launch, likely to exit the engagement zone quickly and avoid retaliatory fire from remaining russian air defenses.
The AGM-88 HARM is the U.S.-manufactured weapon, adapted by Ukraine for use with Soviet-era aircraft such as the MiG-29 aircarft. Since its initial delivery in 2022, the HARM has become a critical tool in Ukraine's effort to weaken russia's layered air defense network along active frontlines.
Russian Tor and Buk systems, which are responsible for intercepting Ukrainian drones, aircraft, and missiles, represent high-value targets. Disabling or destroying them has a direct impact on the survivability of Ukrainian strike and reconnaissance platforms operating near the front.
The ability to integrate Western weapons into Eastern aircraft platforms reflects Ukraine's adaptive approach to asymmetric warfare. Ukrainian engineers and pilots have rapidly learned to combine NATO equipment with legacy systems, creating hybrid capabilities that continue to frustrate russian planners.
As Defense Express previously reported, in the early hours of July 31, Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted russian cruise missile over Kyiv, marking another critical moment in the ongoing air campaign over Ukraine. According to the Presidential Brigade, one of its MANPADS crews shot down the missile during a nighttime air assault.
Read more: Ukrainian Troops Down russian Iskander-K Missile over Kyiv Using the MANPADS
