UK and Denmark unveil innovative Gravehawk defence for Ukraine
The United Kingdom is set to deliver a new mobile air defence system to Ukraine later this year. According to the British government, the system was swiftly developed to address Ukraine's battlefield needs. The project has been jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. So, what is known about the mysterious Gravehawk system?
"The innovative system, comparable in size to a shipping container, can adapt air-to-air missiles for ground-based air defence, enabling the use of missiles already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces Source," the British government stated in a press release. It emphasises that, in light of Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukraine, "the Gravehawk system will strengthen Ukraine's air defence, allowing it to protect its cities, troops and critical infrastructure."
The Gravehawk system for Ukraine
The British report that in September 2024, two prototypes of the Gravehawk system were tested in Ukraine, with trials for an additional 15 units planned for 2025. Details about the system's specifications and capabilities remain classified. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian military-focused service Militarny speculates that the rapid development of Gravehawk suggests it may not be a "fully developed anti-aircraft system but rather a relatively simple design based on off-the-shelf components."
Furthermore, according to Militarny, Gravehawk might bear resemblance to the already familiar British anti-aircraft missile system mounted on a Supacat HMT chassis, which is equipped with an electro-optical head and an AIM-132 ASRAAM missile launcher. The distinction lies in Gravehawk's potential to utilise Ukrainian missiles. Another possibility is that Gravehawk could be based on Soviet R-73 air-to-air guided missiles, of which Ukraine has a plentiful supply.
It is also noteworthy that, to date, the United Kingdom has provided Ukraine with systems such as the Terrahawk Paladin, which comprises short-range anti-aircraft weapons and improvised anti-aircraft kits. Terrahawk Paladin is a modern, stationary anti-aircraft system manufactured by the British company MSI Defence Systems. Its primary role is to shield critical infrastructure from aerial threats like drones or cruise missiles.
The system is armed with a 30-mm Mk44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon, with an option to upgrade to a 40 mm calibre. Terrahawk Paladin is equipped with a radar featuring four AESA antennas for 360-degree coverage, and an optoelectronic targeting station SATOS, complete with a thermal imaging camera and laser rangefinder. This enables the system to autonomously detect, track, and neutralise targets in all weather conditions.
