Ukraine requests Avenger AA systems from US
The Avenger system is installed on the chassis of the HMMWV armored vehicle (Photo:joint-forces.com)
Ukraine has asked the United States to provide additional air defense systems to defend against Russian kamikaze drone attacks, U.S. magazine Foreign Policy reported on Oct. 26, citing sources in Kyiv and Washington.
According to the report, the request focused on Avenger short-range anti-air systems. They are designed to mount on HMMWV armored vehicles and are effective in intercepting low-flying targets, up to 5.5 kilometers away. A typical Avenger system includes four Stinger FIM-92 missiles, a 12.7mm flak machine gun, and a radar tracking station.
The article suggested it might be difficult for the United States to grant the request, as Avengers are currently available only in limited quantities.
Air defenses have become a priority for Kyiv, as Russia has stepped up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, knocking out as much as 30% of it in October. Both cruise missiles and Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones are widely used by Moscow to this end.
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