A few days ago, the Ukrainian Armed Forces unveiled a new FrankenSAM-type air defense system in a report featuring its use by the 3rd Independent Assault Brigade. One of its main characteristics is the use of R-73 Archer air-to-air missiles, originally designed for MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters of the Ukrainian Air Force. However, several questions arose regarding the platform used to adapt the launch system. Thanks to recently viralized images, it has been confirmed that the vehicle employed is a HMMWV 4×4 utility vehicle transferred by the United States.
Born out of both ingenuity and necessity, over more than three years of conflict, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have developed a series of air defense systems that repurpose missiles originally designed for other platforms, both of Western and Russian/Soviet origin.
Among the most notable examples of these FrankenSAM systems is the Buk-M1 (NATO designation: SA-11 Gadfly), which has been modified to use RIM-7 Sea Sparrow naval surface-to-air missiles transferred by the United States. Another example is the adaptation of a 9K33 Osa air defense system (NATO designation: SA-8 Gecko) to launch R-73 air-to-air missiles.
The adaptation of these missiles, originally designed for fighter jets and attack aircraft, is driven by the need to continue using these air defense systems, as their original missiles—such as the 9M38 and 9M33M3 of Soviet origin—cannot be replenished and are presumed to be in critically low supply. To compensate, Ukraine has turned to other types of missiles, such as the R-73, which it reportedly has in large stockpiles, as well as the RIM-7.
However, as reported by crews operating these systems: “Using these missiles, which were designed for different platforms, has its drawbacks. In the case of the Buk-M1, the RIM-7 has a shorter range than the 9M38, forcing crews and their mobile systems to operate closer to the front line. This increases the risk of exposure to Russian counter-battery and air defense suppression capabilities.”
This shorter range could be offset by using highly mobile and fast platforms, as seen in the latest viralized images on social media. These images show the new FrankenSAM R-73 missile launch system installed and integrated into one or more HMMWV 4×4 vehicles transferred through multiple U.S. military aid packages.
Beyond appearances, the Ukrainian troops’ solution bears some similarities to the M1097 Avenger system, which employs FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles—although with a lower level of sophistication. It is also worth noting that the United States has supplied Ukraine with this type of system as a short-range air defense solution against drones and various types of aircraft.
However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ publication did not provide additional details of significance, leaving many aspects of this new FrankenSAM air defense system yet to be explored and analyzed in terms of its capabilities.
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