WATCH: First Confirmed Strike by Ukrainian Su-27 on Russian SAM with US-Made Missile
A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet successfully destroyed a Russian surface-to-air missile (SAM) system using a US-made AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile), in what is claimed to be the first confirmed strike of the kind.
The hit was reported on June 2 by Army Recognition, which released video footage taken by a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone.
The clip shows a secondary explosion and what appears to be an uncontrolled missile launch from the damaged Russian system. While the exact type of the Russian target is unclear due to the video’s quality, analysts believe it was likely to be a Buk or Tor surface-to-air missile system.
The Su-27, a Soviet-era air superiority fighter designed in the 1980s, was not originally built to carry Western precision weapons.
But Ukrainian engineers have modified the aircraft to launch the HARM, marking a major technical leap in Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
The AGM-88 HARM, developed in the United States, is designed to seek and destroy radar systems. It can hit targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers (90 plus miles) at speeds of over Mach 2.
The missile detects radio emissions from enemy radars and guides itself to the target, making it highly effective against mobile air defense units.
As reported by Army Recognition, adapting this Western missile to the Su-27 was a significant achievement. The aircraft had to be modified to allow basic integration with the missile’s targeting and launch systems, even without modern NATO-standard electronics.
Missions involving the HARM now use pre-planned routes, intelligence support, and electronic warfare to suppress Russian air defenses – allowing Ukrainian pilots to strike from safer distances.
Previously, the Su-27 could only deliver unguided bombs or rockets, requiring pilots to fly dangerously close to enemy lines. Now, with stand-off strike capability, Ukrainian jets can engage targets without entering heavily defended zones, improving pilot safety and mission success.
Source: Alisa Orlova