FrankenSAM hybrid air defense systems operate in Ukraine: Defense Express unveils details

He shared the information on Espreso TV.

"Currently, we can confidently talk about three areas of the first FrankenSAM hybrid air defense systems that are already known. The first project is the integration of AIM-9. This is a missile with an infrared homing head. Ukraine will actually receive an analog of the MIM-72 Chaparral system, which has a range of up to 5 km and an altitude of up to 4 km. This is a replacement for the Strela-10 air defense system, which uses Soviet missiles. The AIM-9 missile is an extremely popular missile, it's a bestseller. It is relatively cheap, and its production continues," Katkov explained.

According to the editor-in-chief of Defense Express, FrankenSAM allows to keep Soviet systems in service with new ammunition.

"The second project is the Buk air defense system with the RIM-7 AIM-7 missile with a range of over 20 km. There was a question of where to get Soviet missiles for Buk, because they are produced only by Russia. At the same time, the RIM-7 AIM-7 is not in short supply, it is not a new missile. There are quite significant stocks, which allows us to keep the main medium-range air defense system in service," Katkov said.

The editor-in-chief of Defense Express also added that there is a lot of room for further strengthening Ukraine's air defense.

"The third project is Patriot with Ukrainian radar, and it's fantastic. There are very few Patriot systems in the world. Therefore, under the scenario that partners transfer launchers and a stockpile of missiles, and Ukraine, together with the United States, integrates them into its own radar station, the question of how to transfer Patriot to Ukraine is removed," Katkov emphasized.

• The US has created the FrankenSAM air defense system, which combines advanced Western-caliber surface-to-air missiles with converted Soviet-era launchers.
• Leading international media outlets reported on the new weapons that Ukrainian defenders would be using. According to a special project, Soviet weapons were adapted to American models, which will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to arm themselves without using elements made in the aggressor country.