Ukraine to Receive AIM Interceptors to Counter Russian Cruise Missiles and Shahed Drones

Ukraine will soon receive a new batch of AIM missiles designed to intercept Russian cruise missiles and jet-powered drones, strengthening the country’s air defense capabilities against increasingly complex aerial attacks, RBC-Ukraine reported.

These Western-made air-to-air missiles have already been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine for several years and are used both from F-16 fighter jets and NASAMS air defense systems adapted for ground launch. Their radar-guided targeting and high speed allow them to intercept fast-moving threats before they reach critical infrastructure.

The delivery comes at a particularly critical moment. During the harshest winter Ukraine has faced in recent years, Russia has intensified the use of Shahed drones and cruise missiles in systematic attacks against the country’s energy infrastructure.

These waves of strikes have caused widespread blackouts, damaged power plants, and forced millions of civilians to endure subzero temperatures with limited access to electricity and heating.

Shahed drones, in particular, have become a central tool in Russia’s campaign to exhaust Ukraine’s energy system through persistent, low-cost attacks.

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AIM missiles are specifically optimized to destroy these types of aerial threats, including Shahed drones and cruise missiles. Their integration across both air and ground platforms allows Ukraine to build a more flexible air defense network capable of responding rapidly to attacks from multiple directions and altitudes.

The reinforcement of these capabilities comes amid growing technological competition in aerial warfare. As reported earlier, Russia’s 320-km air-to-air missile is forcing NATO to rethink control of the skies, underscoring how both Ukraine and its allies are accelerating the deployment of advanced systems to counter increasingly sophisticated aerial threats.

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