30 August 2022

Ukraine conflict: Ukrainian MiG shown firing HARM missiles

by Gareth Jennings

Screenshot showing a Ukrainian MiG-29 launching a HARM anti-radiation missile. The video was released by the Ukrainian government on 30 August 2022. (Ukrainian government)

The Ukrainian government has confirmed the use of air-launched anti-radiation missiles against Russian forces, with a video released on 30 August showing for the first time an air force MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum' firing AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARMs).

The footage, released as part of a wider package showing ongoing Ukrainian Air Force operations against Russian ground forces, came some three weeks after the United States confirmed delivery of anti-radiation missiles to Kyiv. This confirmation followed the release of imagery from Russian sources of what purported to be parts from either a HARM or AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) that had been fired at its positions.

The use of this particular Western missile had prompted speculation that Ukraine may have been in receipt of the types of Western combat aircraft that are known to carry it, such as the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. The speculation was reinforced by a tweet put out at about the same time by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) that showed an artist's rendering of F-16s in national livery and markings to coincide with Ukrainian Air Force Day on 7 August. “Ukrainian Fighting Falcons strike back,” the post stated.

However, the US government said that the anti-radiation missile (it did not specific the type) had been modified to be fired from aircraft in service with the Ukrainian Air Force, which this video now confirms.

The Ukrainian government has confirmed the use of air-launched anti-radiation missiles against Russi...

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