A special missile that destroys Russian radar has become a “critical factor” in Ukraine’s recent success after it was secretly armed on to their jets, military analysts have told The National.
Working covertly over the summer, US engineers overcame technical challenges to attach the High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) to Ukraine’s Russian-made fighters.
The technology has given the Ukrainian air force a potent counter-punch with the missile homing in on radiation transmissions at 3,200 kilometres per hour, destroying Russian radars or forcing them to shut down to avoid detection.
This has given Ukraine’s drones, missiles and aircraft safe airspace to launch attacks with the HARM system playing a significant role in Kyiv’s counter-offensive, during which government troops have retaken vast areas of occupied territory.
“What HARM does to Russian air defence is a critical factor,” said Sam Cranny-Evans, a specialist on the Russian military at the RUSI think tank. “Their radar was playing a really important role in reducing the damage from HIMARS missiles and drones which means that they really can't afford to lose them.”
Radar is vital in identifying incoming air attacks and to guide air defence systems such as the TorM2 missile system that is capable of shooting down the US-supplied HIMARS precision missiles.
Showing increased sophistication in modern warfare, the Ukrainians are sending in “strike packages” of drone and HIMARS salvos, after HARM attacks that either destroy radars or force the Russians to switch them off, blinding their defences.
The reappearance of the Turkish-supplied Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, that were vulnerable to Russian air defence, also suggests the radiation missiles are restricting radar.
Key to this was the exceptionally fast adaptation of the American-made missiles to the MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-30 jets, something recently confirmed by the US Pentagon.
“That wasn’t an easy task,” said Nick Brown, director at Janes, the defence intelligence provider “Using HARM is not as easy as just strapping the missile on to a fighter and pulling the trigger. The software coding, avionics and sensors in a Sukhoi Su-30 or MiG-29 are a world away from the western fighters that the missile was designed to arm.”
Working in secrecy during the early summer, it is understood that American specialists fitted the missiles and tested them somewhere in the relative safety of western Ukraine
“It was quite a feat in that normally you would expect this sort of thing to take a very long time in terms of months or years of trials, especially in how the missile interacts with the flight control software,” said air warfare RUSI specialist, Justin Bronk. “It's highly impressive that they did it in a couple of months.”
However, he said, the attachment was like to be “extremely rudimentary” with the missile's homing abilities doing most of the work.
The National understands that HARM version being used is the AGM-88B model that has been successfully deployed during operations in Iraq, the former Yugoslavia and Libya.
The 350-kilogram missile has a seeker with a range of 145km that is able to find and hit radars, sometimes even after they have been switched off.
“The anti-radiation missiles allow you to create windows of access for other aircraft to go in and do things within what would otherwise be in range of those defence systems,” said Mr Bronk. “There are certainly several Russian radars that have been pictured apparently destroyed by HARM as well as several SA15s self-propelled short-range missile air defence systems that have been damaged.”
“HARM’s entire purpose is to kill radars and the version that has entered the fight in Ukraine has a seeker set up to find radar emitters and home in on them at well over 2,000 miles per hour [3,200kph], delivering a fragmentation warhead designed to shred antennas and control buildings,” said Mr Brown of Janes.
Before the February invasion, the Russian air force was regarded as vastly superior but it then suffered losses to Ukraine's missile defence system.
Kyiv’s clever use of HARM has now resulted in almost a reversal of who controls the skies, giving it the ability to launch air strikes on Russian positions, something previously considered unthinkable.
“The presence of an anti-radiation capability in-theatre has forced the Russian forces to change their radar deployment plans and enact more complicated usage patterns, switching radars off and moving them around, degrading their situational awareness at a strategic level and enabling Ukrainian air assets a greater freedom of movement,” said Mr Brown.
That tactic, known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defence, has allowed Ukraine’s forces to deploy drones that can direct artillery fire with much greater accuracy, said Mr Bronk. “This also gives them more access to their fast jets to deliver unguided rockets and bomb attacks that will make things much harder for the Russians.”
It also shows the increased sophistication of Kyiv’s forces that has come from western supplied equipment and training, said Sam Cranny-Evans.
“The Ukrainians now have lots of different ways now to menace Russian systems whereas only back in July, before HIMARS and HARM arrived their options were to try not to die,” he said. “Now they can push back and start taking action to attack the Russians with real effectiveness.”
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
RESULTS
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
More on animal trafficking
Pathaan
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The%20Letter%20Writer
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THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Take Me Apart
Kelela
(Warp)
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
Watford 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Newcastle United 3 West Ham United 0
Huddersfield Town 0 Southampton 0
Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 2
Manchester United 2 Leicester City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Stoke City 1
Chelsea 2 Everton 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Burnley 1
Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
