Ukraine Appears to Be Testing a Brand-New US Air Defense System Revealed Only Last Year

Ukraine may have quietly received a new US-made air defense system for operational testing, according to an analysis published by Defense Express on January 11.

The system in question appears to be Tempest, a newly developed short-range air defense platform produced by US defense company V2X, which uses AGM-114L Longbow missiles to engage aerial targets.

The assessment is based on footage released by Ukraine’s Air Command “Center” as part of a New Year’s video message. Analysts say one of the systems visible in the video closely matches the configuration of the Tempest air defense system, suggesting it may already be in use by Ukraine’s air defense units.

At this stage, it remains unclear how many Tempest systems Ukraine may have received. Given that Tempest is a very recent US development, defense experts believe Kyiv may have been provided with one or several prototype units for field testing, evaluation, and potential refinement based on combat experience.

Tempest was publicly unveiled for the first time in 2025 and made its exhibition debut at the AUSA 2025 defense show in October.

Developed by V2X, the system is designed in two configurations: a trailer-mounted version intended to protect fixed sites, and a mobile variant optimized for rapid deployment.

The concept behind Tempest reflects lessons drawn from the Russian-Ukrainian war, particularly the need for mobile, relatively low-cost systems capable of intercepting drones. In its mobile form, Tempest is designed to operate with inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf vehicles, such as light buggies, making it suitable for so-called mobile fire groups.

However, the question of cost-effectiveness remains open, Defense Express notes. While the platform itself is intended to be affordable and flexible, Tempest relies on AGM-114L Longbow missiles, whose unit cost can reach around $100,000.

Using such missiles to intercept one-way attack drones like the Iranian-designed Shahed represents a costly solution, even if operationally effective.

If confirmed, the appearance of Tempest in Ukraine would signal not only continued US support but also Ukraine’s role as a real-world testing ground for next-generation air defense systems shaped directly by modern, drone-heavy warfare, Defense Express concluded.

Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defence officially confirmed that 13 Raven short-range air defense systems have already been delivered to Ukraine, along with two prototype Gravehawk systems.

Raven is a mobile short-range air defense system built on a SupaCat chassis and adapted to fire AIM-132 ASRAAM missiles, originally designed for air-to-air combat. The system allows for rapid deployment and engagement of low-altitude targets near the front lines.

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