UK to deliver 350 ASRAAM missiles to strengthen Ukrainian air defense capability.

According to information published by the British Newspaper, The Guardian, on June 24, 2025, the United Kingdom has announced a new delivery package to Ukraine that includes 350 ground-launched ASRAAM missiles and five additional Raven air defense missile systems. The missiles, adapted from their original air-to-air configuration by British defense engineers at MBDA UK and the Royal Air Force, are scheduled for deployment in the coming weeks. The funding, amounting to £70 million, will come directly from interest generated through the UK’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) scheme, which utilizes proceeds from frozen Russian financial assets. This represents the first instance in which the UK has used Russia-linked funds to finance lethal aid for Ukraine.
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British-made Raven air defense system equipped with ground-launched ASRAAM missile ready for deployment. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The Raven air defense system is a short-range, mobile missile platform developed by the UK Ministry of Defence in collaboration with MBDA UK and the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Warfare Centre. It is mounted on a Supacat HMT 600 series high-mobility vehicle and integrates the AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), now modified for ground-launch use. With Mach 3+ speed and advanced infrared guidance, the retrofitted ASRAAMs offer rapid response against fast and low-flying aerial threats including drones, cruise missiles, and rotary-wing aircraft. The Raven system has been operational in Ukraine since 2023, with current Ukrainian forces already using eight such systems in active combat zones. The planned delivery of five more units will raise the total to 13, expanding Ukraine’s mobile air defense network and its capacity to intercept Russian air attacks across multiple fronts.

The first Raven air defense systems were delivered to Ukraine in mid-2023, shortly after the platform was unveiled as a rapid-response solution to emerging aerial threats. Developed and fielded in record time, Raven became one of the first Western air defense systems tailored specifically to Ukraine’s mobile defense needs. Its compact size, truck-mounted mobility, and use of the highly capable ASRAAM missile make it especially valuable for defending front-line positions and key infrastructure under constant threat from Russian drones and missiles. As of June 2025, a total of eight Raven systems have already been transferred and are actively deployed within Ukrainian air defense formations, with five more units now confirmed for delivery.

The ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile) is a high-speed, highly agile missile developed by MBDA for close-in air combat. Originally designed for fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35, it employs an advanced infrared seeker and off-boresight targeting capabilities, allowing it to lock onto and destroy targets from a wide range of angles without requiring the launching platform to be directly aligned. The missile features a solid rocket motor and advanced aerodynamics, giving it exceptional maneuverability and a top speed exceeding Mach 3. Its adaptation for ground launch by the UK reflects the missile’s flexibility and the ingenuity of British defense engineers in rapidly converting it into a powerful short-range surface-to-air weapon.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the UK has provided sustained and high-impact military assistance to Ukraine, becoming one of its foremost defense supporters in Europe. To date, the UK has allocated over £10.8 billion in military aid, including Challenger 2 main battle tanks, M270 multiple launch rocket systems, Starstreak and Stormer HVM air defense systems, and Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Moreover, under Operation Interflex, more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops have undergone combat training on British soil, covering infantry tactics, logistics, medical support, and junior leadership.

In addition to equipment and training, the UK is playing a key role in bolstering Ukraine’s long-term defense industrial capacity, recently entering joint ventures with Ukrainian partners to co-produce long-range unmanned systems. The upcoming integration of 350 ground-launched ASRAAMs and the expansion of Raven air defense platforms underscores the UK's strategy to enhance Ukraine’s self-defense through innovation, mobility, and strategic funding, further solidifying London’s leadership role within NATO’s unified support for Ukraine.