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War in Ukraine

What You Need to Know About the Greek Sea Sparrow Missiles Headed to Ukraine

What You Need to Know About the Greek Sea Sparrow Missiles Headed to Ukraine

Greece has previously been reluctant to send air defense to Ukraine due to their own protection needs. Now, Athens has confirmed the future delivery of their Sea Sparrow missiles. But what are they and how can they be used?

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Jessica_daly
Jess Daly
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Greece has confirmed a future delivery of 24 Sea Sparrow missiles to Ukraine to combat Russia’s ongoing aerial attacks. Sea Sparrows are US-made short-range missiles launched from the ground or the sea capable of intercepting cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. 

The Sea Sparrow can strike targets at a height of between 6 to 15 thousand metres, within a 30km range and can be launched from the Soviet-era Buk-M1, FrankenSAM air defense system. 

The Buk-M1 systems previously fired Russian produced 9M38 missiles but due to dwindling stock, the Ukrainian military in November 2023 received modernized systems capable of the Sea Sparrow integration under the FrankenSAM project.

FrankenSAM is a project and umbrella term launched by the US to deploy available air defense systems around the world to Ukraine while and/or adapting Soviet-style missile launchers to Western missiles. The adaptation of Sea Sparrow for the Buk-M1 was one of the first parts of the FrankenSAM project. 

FrankenSAM was launched to create a quick and effective solution for arsenal delivery to Ukraine and to create new and modernised air defense systems by repurposing existing technology with surplus munitions. 

Athens has previously been reluctant to fulfil Kyiv’s requests and send air defense systems to Ukraine. Greece refused to send S-300 missile systems or the Patriot air defense, as they “are critically important for the protection of Greece's airspace”  Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in April 2024 said 

Mitsotakis in April confirmed that Greece would supply Ukraine with a surplus of arsenal no longer needed. The Sea Sparrows are from Greece’s naval and air force stockpiles and have reportedly been in use for 40 years. Ukraine first received the Sea Sparrows in 2023.

According to reports, Greece has already supplied; 40 BMP-1A1 infantry fighting vehicles, 815 RPG-18 anti-tank weapons, 20,000 Kalashnikov rifles, and large quantities of 122mm rocket artillery rounds. 

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