Ukraine received no Gravehawk air defence systems from UK in 2025
Out of the public eye, the UK has been developing air defence systems for Ukraine for years, with platforms in-country since 2023
The Gravehawk and Raven GBAD systems have been developed by the UK, firing missiles known to be in Ukraine’s inventory
However, apparent delays to Gravehawk deliveries have been revealed following a release of a parliamentary note
Newly disclosed data by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed that Ukraine received no additional Gravehawk ground-based air defence systems (GBAD) from the UK last year, despite earlier assertions that 15 units would be delivered in 2025.
In a 6 January parliamentary written response by Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, it was disclosed that the first batch of the 15 additional Gravehawk systems would be delivered “soon”.
Two prototype systems of the secretive air defence capability were delivered to Ukraine in 2024, likely for testing and evaluation before rolling the programme out at scale.
Loaded into the Gravehawk appear to be R-73 air-to-air missiles adapted for ground launch operations. Credit: UK DE&S.
The cause for the apparent delay in delivery of Gravehawk to Ukraine has not been disclosed, but it is thought likely that factors such as delays to supplier part deliveries, training of Ukrainian personnel, and even potentially the weather, have been factors.
Additionally, while the delivery timelines were not disclosed by Carns, the relative simplicity of the platform should enable, sans delivery issues, to produce the platforms in quick order.
It is thought likely that the bulk of the additional Gravehawks will be delivered in Q1 2026, with the UK potentially completing the order by the end of the summer.
Gravehawk: GBAD in a box
The UK government had 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.
Analysis of subsequently released imagery shows that the GBAD system is a containerised launch unit, appearing capable of firing 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.
UK completes Raven GBAD deliveries
However, more positively, the MoD confirmed that it had delivered five additional Raven GBAD systems to Ukraine between mid-May and the end of 2025, bringing the total number of the UK designed system to 13 platforms.
In 2023, the UK delivered a first batch of eight Raven platforms.
Ukraine’s new Raven air defence systems provided by the UK. Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright
Similar in concept to Gravehawk, the Raven GBAD uses a Supacat HMT 600 platform as a host vehicle, mounting a launcher that can fire two ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missiles from the flatbed.
Ukraine is desperate for additional air defence systems, with Russia transitioning in 2025 to the widespread use of long-range loitering munitions and missile strikes against civil and military targets throughout the country.
UK has been developing systems for Ukraine for years
Behind the public headlines, it is clear that the UK is continuing to provide significant technical and capability expertise to Ukraine, across a range of areas, particularly, but by no means limited to, air defence systems.
As well as Gravehawk and Raven, UK forces have helped Ukraine adapt the UK’s own Brimstone land-attack missiles, provided in unknown quantities, into a vehicle-based ‘MLRS-like’ capability.
As ever, assistance rendered by UK industry or military forces inside Ukraine comes at a significant risk to personal safety, a fact highlighted by the recent fatal accident of a UK soldier serving with the 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), while observing Ukrainian personnel testing – according to the UK government – a “new defensive capability” away from the front lines.
Highly trained, 1 PARA is permanently under the command of the British Army’s Director Special Forces.
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