Ukrainian army hints it has Kub SAM, main details remain undisclosed

Defense Express analyzed the available photos of the SAM.

The first publicly available photo of a Ukrainian army’s Kub SAM, likely sourced from the Czech Republic, has surfaced.

While the photo's exact time and location remain unknown, a significant detail is evident: the installation features two Soviet-era 3M9 anti-aircraft missiles. These missiles, with a declared range of up to 25 km, can actually only engage aircraft and helicopters within the frontal hemisphere, with a 0.7 probability of success per missile.

“Ukraine's potential acquisition of the Kub air defense system from the Czech Republic is unexpected. Earlier this year, Czech President Petr Pavel mentioned the potential supply of two SAM batteries, which were then in the decommissioning process. No other indications were given at that time,” Defense Express writes.

This image is the second public indication of Ukraine's possession of Kub air defense systems. The first was an official photo from Operational Command "East," displaying a soldier by the SAM launcher, this time featuring three 3M9 anti-aircraft missiles.

Notably, the vehicle's color differs from Czech armed forces camouflage. While the exact origin remains uncertain, the emergence of a new Soviet-era air defense system within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, potentially sourced from Eastern European NATO countries, sparks interest. More intriguing is whether these Kub systems are compatible with American AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. Such missiles have been supplied to Ukraine as part of various US military assistance packages.

Considering this, it's plausible that the Soviet-era Kub systems in the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been adapted for AIM-7 Sparrow use. The Polish company WZU's 2000s advancements may have facilitated the launch of American anti-aircraft missiles with minimal guide modifications.