The UK government has released the first images of the secretive Gravehawk air defence system developed for Ukraine, news of which was first revealed in January 2025 amid considerable interest from defence observers.
Analysis of the released imagery showcase a containerised launcher unit sitting in a hangar, mounting two missiles that appear similar to the R-73 short range air-to-air missiles known to be in service with Ukraine. The R-73 Vympel, known as the AA-11 Archer in Nato, has an infrared homing sensor, speed of around Mach 2.5, and a range of around 30km.
The container appears to be a standard 8ft-10ft shipping module, which has a sliding roof section that enables egress for launched missiles. The container’s interior features a 125kg-capacity integrated crane system that enables the loading of new missiles into the launcher unit.
In addition, imagery showcases the rear of a truck of uncertain origin, although is looks to be either a 6×6 or 8×8 design. The truck has a clamp system to load the Gravehawk container for increased mobility.
A separate launch control unit is pictured in the back of a 4×4, indicating standoff firing capability for Ukrainian operators.
The UK government earlier described Gravehawk as a UK designed “mobile air defence system” the size of a shipping container and able to “retrofit” air-to-air missiles into a ground-based air defence role. The system was jointly funded with Denmark.
Two prototypes of the air defence capability system were tested in Ukraine in September 2024, and a further 15 systems will be delivered in 2025.
UK announces new Ukraine package
The Gravehawk images were released on 14 February 2025, as part of a wider announcement by UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), an arm of the Ministry of Defence, of a new £150m military support package to Ukraine.
Included in the package were “modernised T-72 tanks” to be deployed by Ukraine by the end of the Spring, among some 50 “armoured and protective vehicles” provided.
DE&S said that UK provided air defence equipment would support “more than 100 Ukrainian air defence teams, with a 90% success rate of shooting down kamikaze drones”, protecting Ukrainian critical national infrastructure.
Drama at the Munich Security Conference
The announcement came prior to the dramatic events of the Munich Security Conference from 14-16 February, during which senior US officials revealed that Washington was to start peace negotiations with Moscow to bring an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Subsequent reporting by the BBC indicated that Ukrainian officials would not be part of the peace talks in Saudi Arabia, while US officials also publicly stated that European countries, which have provided the majority of military and financial support to Ukraine, would also not be included.
Speaking prior to the Munich Security Conference, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Europe would have to secure its own “conventional security” on the continent, indicating a potential partial retreat by the US from the Nato alliance.
In addition, Hegseth said that any peacekeeping troops needed to secure a Ukraine-Russia peace deal would have to come from Europe and operate outside the Article 5 protection of Nato.
