The United Kingdom is set to supply five additional Raven air defense systems to Ukraine, bolstering the country’s ability to intercept Iranian-designed Shahed drones and other airborne threats.
British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) has released new footage and details of the system, which has quietly become one of the most successful short-range air defense platforms in Ukraine.
Known officially as Raven and informally dubbed “Frankensam,” the system is the result of a rapid development initiative launched by the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Center. It was completed in just four months using existing components from the UK’s defense inventory.
The system combines the Supercat HMT-600 military truck with a vertical launch module for ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles), creating a mobile, high-speed air defense unit capable of neutralizing low-flying drones and even combat aircraft.
Raven was first deployed to Ukraine in spring 2023. Since then, the system has fired over 400 missiles against aerial targets, achieving an estimated success rate of 70%. British officials say eight systems have already been transferred to Ukrainian forces, and five more are currently being prepared for delivery.
Also noted that the ASRAAM’s performance in ground-based roles has exceeded expectations. The missile, typically launched from fighter aircraft, weighs 88 kg, carries a 10 kg warhead, and can reach speeds up to Mach 3. When launched from the ground, its effective range is estimated at up to 15 kilometers.