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Raven Air Defense Scored 4 Kills on Day One of Combat Duty, Ukrainian Troops Say
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
A Ukrainian-operated Raven air defense system, supplied by the United Kingdom, successfully shot down four Russian reconnaissance drones during its first combat mission.
The engagement reportedly took place over just eight hours and marked the operational debut of the British-designed short-range air defense (SHORAD) platform in 2023, which was custom-developed for Ukraine to counter Russian drone and missile threats, the Ukrainian Air Force Command reported in a video published on July 3.
“During our first combat shift, we neutralized four reconnaissance UAVs—Orlan and Zala types—in just eight hours,” said Oleksandr, commander of the Ukrainian SAM (surface-to-air missile) platoon operating the system.
He also confirmed that the system has already taken down a Russian cruise missile, though no details were disclosed on the date or location of the interception.
Raven’s simplicity and agility prove to be game-changers
Another crew member, Raven operator Volodymyr, emphasized how easy the British system is to use on the battlefield.
“It’s very straightforward to operate. The control panel has four switches and a ‘launch’ button,” he explained. “When engaging the target, I select the missile and initiate launch. It detaches from the pylon and reaches the target incredibly fast.”
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Raven systems are currently deployed across multiple frontline sectors, providing quick-response coverage against Russian aerial surveillance assets and cruise missiles.
From concept to combat in record time
The Raven system is a joint product of MBDA UK and SupaCat, developed under the leadership of the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Centre. It was conceived, designed, and deployed in just four months in early 2023, in direct response to Ukraine’s urgent need for mobile air defense solutions.
Ravens are built on a SupaCat HMT 600 chassis and armed with ASRAAM (AIM-132) short-range missiles, originally designed for air-to-air combat. These were rapidly modified for ground-based launches, with the missile launch pylons repurposed from retired British Tornado, Jaguar, and Hawk aircraft.
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As of May 2025, Raven systems conducted over 400 launches with an overall intercept success rate of 70%, according to Defense Express and British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).
Each ASRAAM missile weighs 88 kg, carries a 10 kg warhead, and can reach speeds of Mach 3, with an effective range of up to 15 km when ground-launched. The missile’s agility and sensor package make it especially effective against fast, low-flying threats like Shahed drones.
British support continues
In June, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would supply 350 additional ASRAAM missiles to Ukraine. The delivery will be funded through interest generated from frozen Russian state assets, and is valued at £70 million.
Ukraine has already received at least eight Raven systems, with five more currently undergoing preparation for deployment.
These systems represent a significant enhancement to Ukraine’s decentralized, mobile air defense network—one that has become increasingly important as Russia steps up drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Earlier, the United States had temporarily suspended deliveries of key ammunition and air defense missiles to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors, GMLRS, Stinger, AIM-7 missiles, and 155mm artillery shells.
