Across blogs and various media — Russian, Ukrainian, and Western — rumors spread that the wreckage of the American AGM-88 HARM anti radar missile was found in Donbass.
Several photographs were claimed to show the missile remains in positions held by Russian forces. It was alleged that the images depicted the AGM-88 after it had been used by Ukrainian aircraft against Russian air defense systems.
The wreck in the photographed item bears the tail surface markings BSU-60 A / B, which identify the HARM missile tail assembly, and the Raytheon CAGE code 96214. In theory, CAGE codes are assigned to suppliers by the Logistics Agency and the U.S. Department of Defense. Yet, there is no reliable information about who discovered the wreck, who took the photos, or where the debris was photographed. Such incidents should be documented with proper sourcing and exact wording. The initial conclusion is that the origin of the AGM-88 HARM wreck remains unknown.
Questions then arise about who fired the missile and from which platform. Some outlets, notably the U.S. publication The Drive, suggested the target was not publicly disclosed, but that a specially converted MiG-29 carried out the launch. The discussion points to aircraft possibly supplied to Ukraine by a European country. Still, concrete sourcing is lacking and no definitive details have been published.
A number of Ukrainian analysts have claimed that Polish shipments included many spare parts and modules for the MiG-29, enabling the Ukrainian forces to more readily deploy anti radar missiles. They speculated that the type AGM-88 HARM could be mounted on Ukrainian air defense aircraft. Those estimates vary and appear to be based on informal assessments rather than verified data.
One practical question remains: can a domestically produced fighter operate as a carrier for Western air weapons? The answer is complicated. In aviation terms, pallets, mounts, and hooks are designed for specific devices, and the integration process involves more than simple mounting. For guided missiles, the task would require substantial changes to the airframe, including strict alignment of the weapons pylon system and the carrier’s avionics. In other words, adapting a local fighter to carry a Western missile would amount to a major redesign rather than a minor modification.
The hypothesis that AGM-88 HARM missiles might be used in Ukraine with improvised ground launchers with Israeli origins has been floated. While it is a plausible scenario for military-technical cooperation, there is no official confirmation from Israel or Ukraine to support this claim at present.
The perspective presented here reflects one analyst’s view and does not bind editorial decisions. The following background notes provide context for readers seeking to understand how such claims circulate and how to interpret them.
Notes on methodology and sources: the analysis synthesizes publicly available information and common patterns in open media reporting about air defense systems, airframe integration, and cross-border arms transfers. Where claims are asserted, attribution is provided to indicate the evidentiary basis and to distinguish between verified information and speculation. Readers are encouraged to consult multiple sources and apply critical scrutiny when evaluating images and claims about military hardware.