MBDA’s ASRAAM Modified to Strike from Ground Spotted in Ukraine

The United Kingdom appears to have supplied a brand-new MBDA-made AIM-132 ASRAAM mobile ground-based AIM-132 ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile) air defense system to Ukraine.

A report by The Times showed 6×6 Supacat HMT truck with a launcher designed to carry two ASRAAM IR anti-aircraft missiles. Besides, an additional ammunition of two missiles is visible, most likely, the ammunition consists of two missiles on the rails and four in reserve.

There also seems to be a sensor turret positioned on a pylon near the cabin, potentially telescoping to lift it high over the truck. It could be a target-cueing sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared capabilities. Potentially, it could also have as short-range radar function.

An unnamed Ukrainian lieutenant colonel serving in Kyiv’s air defense command told The Times that the U.K. Ministry of Defense has supplied “a handful of Supacat trucks rigged by British engineers to fire ASRAAM.” The story adds that these systems are deployed primarily to intercept swarms of Russia’s Iranian-supplied Shahed suicide drones, and to also support Ukraine’s counteroffensive.