Ukraine releases first photo of "Frankenstein monster" air defense missile

Ukraine releases first photo of "Frankenstein's monster" anti-aircraft missile, a weapon combined between the US and the Soviet Union

Friday, May 31, 2024 10:26 AM (GMT+7)

The Ukrainian military released images of the "Frankenstein monster" air defense missile for the first time. It is known that this defense weapon system is a combination of American missiles and launchers and radars made in the Soviet Union.

Photo of the "Frankenstein monster" air defense missile released by the Eastern Ukraine Command on May 28. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

This is the first time Ukraine has publicly released photos of the "Frankenstein monster" air defense system it operates. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

This is a combination of the launcher and radar of the Buk-M1 complex with a square launch tube containing RIM-7 missiles, which are equipped for warships with a range of about 19 km. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

This integrated air defense system can counter subsonic cruise missiles, UAVs, helicopters and low-flying aircraft. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

The RIM-7 missile has folding wings and a shorter range than the base AIM-7 Sparrow model, which can hit targets 26-70 km away depending on the variant. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

This is quite similar to the ammunition of the Buk-M1 complex made by the Soviet Union and Russia with a maximum range of 22-70 km. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

US media reported in January 2023 that Ukraine will receive a batch of RIM-7 missiles to be installed on the Buk-M1 launcher. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

In November 2023, the Ukrainian Air Force announced the successful testing of the Frankenstein monster air defense system on a training ground in the United States. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

However, they have never published evidence showing that this system is effective in real combat. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Meanwhile, Russian media on May 10 published images of a series of Ukrainian weapons, including the "Frankenstein monster" missile, destroyed by attack. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

The attack was carried out by a Lancet suicide UAV, a fearsome weapon in the Eastern European conflict. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Immediately after the Russian reconnaissance UAV discovered the FrankenSam air defense system, the attack order was given. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

A precision strike from a Lancet suicide UAV caused a Ukrainian air defense system to explode. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

FrankenSam (Frankenstein's monster missile) is a program that combines parts of Western air defense systems with old Soviet-era complexes that Ukraine has a lot of in stock. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Some projects simply involve installing American missiles on old launchers, while others are more complex, such as integrating entire Western launchers into the S-300 air defense system. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

This combined defense weapons program is being carried out by Ukraine with the support of the United States. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Kiev began putting the first FrankenSAM air defense system into combat duty at the end of December last year. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Information about the FrankenSAM program first emerged in April last year, after a number of classified US intelligence documents were leaked on the social network Discord. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

It is not clear how many Buk-M1 complexes Ukraine owns besides the 72 that existed before the war, as well as how many Soviet launchers equipped with American missiles are operating to solve the problem of lack of anti-aircraft ammunition. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

Several countries have modified Soviet-era launchers to use American missiles. For example, a Polish defense company in 2008 displayed a Kub system equipped with a RIM-7 missile. According to TWZ, AFP, Reuters.

PV (According to ANTĐ)

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Source: https://danviet.vn/ukraine-lan-dau-cong-bo-anh-ten-lua-phong-khong-quai-vat-frankenstein-20240531101753066.htm