- Ukraine has received RapidRanger short-range air defense systems supplied under a United Kingdom military aid package announced in 2025 and deployed them with mobile fire groups.
- The RapidRanger system provides mobile, laser-guided air defense using Starstreak 2 and Lightweight Multirole Missiles to counter low-altitude threats such as drones and cruise missiles.
Ukraine has received and fielded RapidRanger short-range air defense systems, with at least one unit observed during a recent visit by Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov alongside Lithuania’s Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas to positions of mobile air defense groups.
The system, previously announced as part of United Kingdom military assistance in 2025, was seen deployed in an operational setting.
Mobile air defense groups have become a central component of Ukraine’s layered air defense, requiring compact, fast-reaction systems capable of operating independently or within broader command networks.
The RapidRanger systems were included in a £1.7 billion ($2.27 billion) United Kingdom aid package announced in 2025, which also covered Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM). As part of that package, 5,000 LMM missiles were pledged earlier in the year. The delivery of RapidRanger systems aligns with previously disclosed plans to expand Ukraine’s access to mobile air defense platforms suited for dispersed operations.
As noted in earlier official announcements, the RapidRanger is a lightweight autonomous launcher weighing under 500 kilograms. It is designed for integration onto a wide range of vehicles or platforms capable of supporting its payload, allowing flexible deployment across different operational environments.
The system is equipped with both daylight and thermal imaging cameras, enabling operations in low-visibility conditions, including nighttime engagements. It also features an automatic target tracking system and a 360-degree surveillance sensor, providing continuous situational awareness for operators. The system can be integrated into existing command and control (C2) networks, allowing it to operate as part of a coordinated air defense structure.
RapidRanger has a target detection range exceeding 15 kilometers and an effective engagement range of more than 7 kilometers. It carries four ready-to-fire missiles, which can include a mix of Starstreak 2 and Lightweight Multirole Missiles depending on mission requirements. All missiles used by the system are laser-guided, allowing for precision engagement of aerial threats.
The RapidRanger system is designed to counter low-flying targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, and certain types of cruise missiles. Its lightweight configuration and modular design allow it to be mounted on tactical vehicles used by mobile fire groups, enabling rapid repositioning and engagement across changing front-line conditions.