A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet has struck a Russian air defense system using a U.S.-supplied AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile, according to a report from Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi.
The operation was conducted in support of a strike fighter group and involved a pilot from Ukraine’s 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade.
According to Militarnyi, the missile strike triggered the detonation of the Russian system’s onboard munitions. Surveillance drone operators monitoring the engagement recorded a secondary explosion and the uncontrolled launch of a solid-fuel surface-to-air missile, apparently caused by the impact.
While the video did not provide enough clarity to identify the exact system, analysts cited the visible missile behavior and radar emissions at the time of the strike as consistent with Russian Buk or Tor air defense platforms. The presence of active radar at the moment of impact confirmed the target was engaged by an AGM-88 HARM, a missile designed to home in on radar signatures.
Ukraine has employed HARM missiles since mid-2022 as part of its broader strategy to suppress Russian air defenses along the front lines.
The U.S.-made system enables legacy Soviet aircraft such as the Su-27 to disrupt or degrade enemy air defense coverage. These missions often prioritize electronic suppression over outright destruction, with the missile launching toward an approximate area and homing in autonomously on active radar emitters.
Due to the challenges of integration and the tactics employed, confirmed video documentation of successful HARM engagements has been rare. According to the report, this footage may represent the first publicly released video showing a confirmed strike on a Russian air defense system using the American missile.