In the blogosphere and in a number of media – Russian, Ukrainian and Western – information began to spread that the remains of the American AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile were found in Donbass.
In addition, a number of photos of this product were reportedly taken somewhere in the positions of the Russian troops. At the same time, it was alleged that the photos showed the remains of the AGM-88 missile, which was allegedly used by Ukrainian aircraft against Russian air defense systems.
Indeed, the wreckage of the rocket in the photo has characteristic markings on the tail unit BSU-60 A / B (HARM missile tail surface index) and Raytheon Corporation CAGE code – 96214 (CAGE is assigned the Commercial and Government Entity Code). to all suppliers by the Logistics Agency and US Department of Defense supplies).
However, there is no reliable data on exactly who found this wreck, who took the photo, and where exactly the wreckage of the American product was photographed. Such situations should definitely be documented formally and in appropriate wording. So we draw the first conclusion – we really do not know anything about the origin of the AGM-88 HARM wreck.
Now let’s consider who launched this missile and from which object. In some media, especially in the American edition of The Drive, it was claimed that the target at which the missile was fired was not officially disclosed, but it is known that this was done by a specially converted MiG-29 fighter. HARM is initialized.
We are talking about warplanes, probably sent to Ukraine by “one of the European countries”. Let’s be careful – again, absolutely no references to any features and possible sources of information.
A number of Ukrainian experts claim that the Poles delivered many “spare parts” and “blocks” for the MiG-29 to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and these deliveries made it possible to easily use anti-radar missiles. Type AGM-88 HARM on aircraft of the Air Defense Force of Ukraine. Let’s say – more than light estimates of an amateur plan.
To begin, let’s ask ourselves a question – is it possible to use a domestically-made fighter as a carrier of Western-made aircraft weapons? And we note that this is not the easiest task, because, figuratively speaking, rockets and bombs absolutely nothing fits, and not to mention other features, nothing, even purely geometric dimensions.
Even for free-falling aerial bombs, it will be necessary to radically remake the gun suspension units on any aircraft. With guided missiles, the situation will be even more difficult.
Beam holders are designed for them, for which a set of units and equipment are additionally mounted. In other words, to hang the AGM-88 HARM below the domestic MiG-29 requires significant mechanical changes in the design of the aircraft. But all this, as they say, is still blossoms in comparison with the necessary changes in the avionics of the fighter as a whole, and especially in the sighting and navigation system.
These changes are so large and voluminous that in practice they mean only one thing – the redesign of the aircraft. Making a new fighter is easier than adapting the MiG-29 to use the AGM-88 HARM.
The following assumption was also made: if AGM-88 HARM missiles were used in Ukraine, then most likely, from Israeli-made improvised ground launchers. The version is quite reasonable, but the military-technical cooperation between Jerusalem and Kyiv has not yet reached this level.
There is no official confirmation of such deliveries, neither from Israel nor from Ukraine.
The author’s view may not coincide with the editors’ position.
Author biography:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military observer for socialbites.ca, a retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-aircraft Missile School (1976),
Air Defense Military Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile battalion (1980–1983).
Deputy commander of an anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior officer of the Air Defense Forces Chief of Staff (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduate of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000–2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010–2015).