Ukraine and US Collaborate on Hybrid Air Defense Systems: Adapting Western Missiles for Soviet SAMs

The question of strengthening air defense has become one of the most pressing issues for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized. To meet Ukraine's high demand for such defense systems, the United States is manufacturing so-called FrankenSAM systems, which combine advanced Western munitions with Soviet-era platforms still in Ukrainian arsenals, as reported by The New York Times.

FrankenSAM integrates modern "surface-to-air" missiles of Western caliber with modified launch platforms from Soviet times or radars already in use by the Ukrainian military.

At present, two variants of this air defense system have already been tested at military bases in the United States. One combines "Buk" launchers with American Sea Sparrow missiles, while the other combines Soviet-era radars with American Sidewinder missiles. These systems may be deployed in Ukraine by the end of the autumn. Another version of the FrankenSAM system, developed based on the Hawk missile complex from the Cold War era, was recently used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The FrankenSAM program emerged late last year when Ukrainian officials reached out to allies to help them find missiles for approximately 60 Soviet-era "Buk" anti-aircraft missile systems and radars that were stored in Ukraine. Knowing that it would be difficult for the West to find Russian-made ammunition for the "Buk" systems, Ukrainians also proposed modifying the launchers to use NATO-caliber anti-aircraft missiles provided by the United States.

"Together, these systems can help close critical gaps in Ukraine's air defense," noted Laura Cooper, a senior representative of the U.S. Department of Defense.

It's worth noting that air defense assets are part of the military aid package worth around $100 billion that Ukraine received from its allies after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The United States, which has allocated more funds for armaments than any other country, is considering providing an additional $60 billion as part of a new plan for extraordinary spending by the Biden administration.

On Thursday, the U.S. President's administration announced an additional $150 million in military aid to Ukraine—a package that includes extra munitions for three types of air defense systems, including Sidewinder missiles for one of the FrankenSAM anti-aircraft missile complexes.

Germany's government has also provided Ukraine with another package of military aid, including anti-aircraft equipment, munitions, and 155mm shells. It also includes the third IRIS-T SLM air defense system, which, according to Ukrainian military officials, is highly effective.