Breaking News: First Combat Use of U.S. AGM-88 Missile by Ukrainian Su-27 Fighter Jet to Destroy Russian Air Defense.

According to information published by NOELreports on June 2, 2025, a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet from the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade successfully destroyed a Russian surface-to-air missile (SAM) system using a U.S.-supplied AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). The strike, captured in a newly released video, represents the first confirmed visual evidence of a HARM missile neutralizing a Russian SAM system, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Ukraine’s air combat capability and integration of Western technology into Soviet-era platforms.
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Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 fighter jet launches U.S.-made AGM-88 HARM missile during combat mission targeting Russian air defense radar system in the first documented operational use. (Picture source: Ukrainian social network)

The Su-27, known by NATO as “Flanker,” is a fourth-generation, twin-engine air superiority fighter developed by the Soviet Union in the 1980s to counter the U.S. F-15 Eagle. It features a high thrust-to-weight ratio with twin Saturn AL-31F engines, giving it a maximum speed of Mach 2.35, a service ceiling of 19,000 m (62,336 ft), and a combat radius of roughly 1,500 km (932 mi). Armed traditionally with R-27 and R-73 air-to-air missiles, a 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, and unguided air-to-ground munitions, the Su-27 was never designed to perform advanced SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions. Its role in Ukraine’s air force had been limited to air defense and basic ground attack roles using legacy Soviet ordnance.

The successful deployment of the AGM-88 HARM by a Ukrainian Su-27 marks a transformational leap. The AGM-88, developed by Texas Instruments and now produced by Raytheon, is a supersonic air-to-surface missile designed specifically for SEAD missions. It homes in on RF (radio frequency) emissions from radar and air defense systems, enabling precision strikes against targets that would otherwise compromise air operations. The missile weighs 355 kg (783 lb), has a speed exceeding Mach 2.0, and a range of up to 150 km (93 mi), depending on the variant and launch parameters. Its warhead, the 66 kg (145 lb) WDU-21/B blast-fragmentation type, delivers lethal effects against radar arrays, mobile SAM units, and associated command posts.

This combat usage illustrates the growing technical ability of Ukrainian defense engineers to integrate NATO-standard weaponry into Soviet-era airframes. While Su-27s lack the digital mission computers and multifunction displays of Western SEAD platforms like the F-16CJ or EA-18G Growler, Ukrainian teams have implemented avionics modifications enabling the aircraft to cue, launch, and guide the HARM effectively. Ukrainian pilots use pre-briefed mission profiles, coordinated electronic warfare (EW) support, and intelligence feeds to overcome the Su-27’s original limitations and maximize the missile’s effectiveness. This adaptation allows Ukrainian aircraft to engage Russian air defense systems from beyond the range of return fire, vastly increasing survivability during high-risk missions.

Compared to the standard ground attack payload of the Su-27, such as FAB-series free-fall bombs or S-8/S-13 rocket pods, the AGM-88 HARM provides a revolutionary advantage. Traditional Soviet-era munitions lack precision and require pilots to approach heavily defended targets at short range, exposing them to SAMs and anti-aircraft artillery. By contrast, the HARM enables long-range, precision destruction of radars without entering lethal engagement zones, directly contributing to the degradation of Russian integrated air defense networks (IADNs).

This confirmed strike not only highlights the combat viability of retrofitting Western precision-guided munitions to Soviet platforms, but it also signals a doctrinal shift in Ukraine’s air warfare strategy. The ability to conduct real-time SEAD operations opens the door for expanded air campaign planning, deeper battlefield penetration, and increased tactical flexibility. The precedent set by this mission strengthens Ukraine’s position in modern aerial warfare and demonstrates the value of international defense cooperation and technology transfer under combat conditions.