The Ukrainian Armed Forces expect a new batch of American AIM missiles from Canada, which successfully shoot down enemy cruise missiles, helicopters, and jet-powered drones.
As reported by Hvylya, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced the upcoming delivery.
During recent talks between Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and his Canadian counterpart David McGuinty, the transfer of the new weapons was confirmed. According to the Defense Ministry, three variants of these missiles are currently active in Ukraine, launched from F-16 fighter jets and NASAMS ground-based air defense systems.
The ministry explained the advantages of the American weapons: "AIM series missiles are highly effective due to their 'fire-and-forget' capability, resistance to electronic warfare, various targeting methods, maneuverability, and continuous upgrades."
The smallest variant is the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Weighing about 90 kg and measuring 3 meters long, it is highly effective in close air combat. The missile hits targets up to 35 km away at a speed of 3,000 km/h and features an infrared seeker.
The medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM utilizes an active radar seeker and can destroy air targets beyond visual range. Weighing 160 kg, it reaches speeds of 4,900 km/h with an engagement range of up to 75 km. A modified version can intercept targets up to 180 km away.
The largest missile in the series is the AIM-7 Sparrow. It weighs 230 kg and carries a 39-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. Thanks to its semi-active radar seeker, this weapon can effectively shoot down jet-powered drones like the Shahed-238 at a range of up to 70 km.