Exclusive: Inside RAVEN – The UK’s Game-Changing Air Defense Missile System Now Shielding Ukraine.

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes look, Colonel Todd from the British Royal Marines unveils the extraordinary RAVEN, the UK-built, rapid-response ground-based air defense system that has become a crucial asset in Ukraine’s evolving defensive architecture. Originally developed under the nickname “FrankenSAM,” RAVEN transformed from a conceptual hybrid system into two fully operational platforms in Ukrainian hands in just three months. What began as an innovative solution to repurpose expiring British ASRAAM air-to-air missiles became a fully functional SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) system mounted on high-mobility vehicles—capable of shielding Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from relentless cruise missile and drone attacks.
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Colonel Todd of the British Royal Marines explains the RAVEN air defense missile system during an exclusive field briefing, highlighting its rapid development and frontline deployment in Ukraine. (Picture source: UK MoD)

The RAVEN air defense system represents one of the most innovative and rapidly developed solutions to emerge from the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aerial threats. Born from the urgency of war and shaped by a fusion of British defense ingenuity and close international cooperation, RAVEN stands as a compelling example of how existing military technologies can be swiftly repurposed to address modern battlefield challenges.

The system was conceived and delivered through the coordination of Task Force Kindred, a UK-based defense initiative working in partnership with MBDA UK, the Royal Air Force (RAF), and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). The core of RAVEN’s striking power lies in the AIM-132 Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), a high-speed infrared-guided missile originally designed for deployment from fast jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon. As large quantities of these missiles approached their end-of-life phase, British defense engineers recognized the opportunity to repurpose them for ground-based use.

Transforming the ASRAAM into a ground-launched interceptor required a reliable, mobile launch platform. The team selected the Supacat High Mobility Transporter (HMT) 600 series—specifically the 6x6 variant—already in service with elite military units. This vehicle’s off-road capabilities, robust design, and modular architecture made it an ideal candidate for creating a lightweight and mobile SHORAD system. Thus, RAVEN was born: a rapidly deployable, high-precision defense solution capable of intercepting threats at short range with maximum agility.

The development and deployment timeline of RAVEN was exceptional. Operating under tight operational secrecy in late 2022, the UK-led team completed successful trials off the coast of South Wales, where the system demonstrated its ability to engage and destroy drones and simulated cruise missile targets. By early 2023, eight RAVEN systems and nearly 150 ASRAAMs were delivered to Ukraine. Continued deliveries throughout 2023 and into 2024 have brought the total number of missiles supplied to over 400, further reinforcing Ukraine’s layered air defense capabilities.

In battlefield conditions, the RAVEN system has proven highly effective. The ASRAAM’s advanced imaging infrared seeker enables “lock on after launch” (LOAL), which allows operators to fire quickly without needing to maintain target lock from the vehicle. This feature is particularly advantageous against fast-moving, low-signature targets such as loitering munitions, kamikaze drones, and cruise missiles. Once launched, ASRAAM independently homes in on its target using its thermal imaging, delivering true “fire-and-forget” capability that enhances tactical flexibility.

Deployed across multiple strategic zones, RAVEN units have demonstrated kill rates as high as 90% against various aerial threats. Their tactical mobility allows them to be relocated swiftly along the frontlines or positioned around key infrastructure sites—power plants, command centers, logistics hubs—ensuring dynamic and reactive defense coverage.

Beyond the hardware itself, RAVEN is also a powerful case study in international defense collaboration. Task Force Kindred not only led the system’s rapid development but also helped coordinate comprehensive operator training. British RAF and MBDA instructors worked directly with Ukrainian military personnel, equipping them with the skills to operate and maintain the system independently and effectively under battlefield conditions.

Ultimately, RAVEN serves as a blueprint for the future of emergency military innovation. It highlights how allied cooperation, resourceful engineering, and decisive action can deliver operational capabilities in record time. In the crucible of Ukraine’s defense, RAVEN has become much more than a system—it is a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and the unyielding will to protect sovereign airspace in the face of modern threats. As drone warfare and precision missile strikes redefine 21st-century combat, systems like RAVEN are leading the way in how nations can rapidly respond to asymmetric and hybrid warfare.